dreams and impossibility

Last weekend a group of us were in New York working on the cabin. This whole project has been a series of obstacles to overcome perhaps none bigger than this past weekend. A 2X16 laminated beam, 36 feet long need to go to the very top of the structure. We had no mechanical lift to aid us. There were six of us, 4 men and 2 women. As we surveyed the task in front of us, one of our group declared that he would eat a certain natural fertilizer if we got the beam in place.

Like any obstacle needing to be overcome, a strategy needed to be devised. However the time came to take action. We attached ropes, set ladders and flexed muscles. And then it was time to begin. We got one end partially up on the interior beam. As we worked the beam higher, a series of obstacles began to confront us. The one knot began to slip. Additionally the beam lodged against an interior beam. We found ourselves in a predicament...we couldn't seem to go any higher; we certainly couldn't let it drop due to the danger of damaging both the beam and the existing house structure.

The practical fulfillment of every God-given dream will eventually put us in that kind of place. We are too far into the outworking of the dream too go back without doing damage. However, moving forward seems to be an impossibility as well.

In our predicament with the beam, we took a bit of time, secured it where it was, re-tyed the knot, and strategized some more. As we began to implement our new strategy, suddenly the beam started to move again. Slowly we inched it up and into place only to discover that we had cut the beam wrong; it was too long. Once again we had to determine a course of action. We gathered cords, a saw was taken to the top of the scaffolding and the length was corrected (after 3 attempts). We fastened the beam into place. A great deal of joy ensued. We accomplished what seemed impossible several hours before.

And so it is with the unfolding of dreams. Impossibility faces us at every turn. Obstacles stare us in the face. At the point of those obstacles, we can shrink back in fear, immobilized by the immensity of the task ahead of us. Or we can take charge of the situation, imposing God's grace and our will on the situation instead of being controlled by it.

Oh and the member of our group who promised to eat that natural fertilizer, well we chose to not hold him to his words. However, he did have to endure a great deal of good-natured banter.