“Go to ACE, tell them you’re patching up a wall and they’ll get you what you need.” Simple enough for a girl who has no brains when it comes to fixing things like holes in drywall. I just always assumed I would add that to my “Reasons to Get Married” list, just below finding someone to change the oil in my car. Ok, I don’t really have a list of reasons, but patching drywall just isn’t something I thought I would need to learn. Luckily for us single ladies out there, the thoughtful people at ACE have hired some very knowledgeable employees who are always willing to help a sister out. So, I grabbed one of my Youth Work’s girls, hopped in the pickup, and left the townhouses knowing we’d be taken care of.
Once at ACE I told the gentleman my dilemma and then…BAM! The ACE Hardware Man gathered everything I needed and ushered Lula and I to the checkout lane. In a matter of minutes we were back at the townhouses and I was feeling good.
After saying goodbye to Lula, I went to the 316 House. I walked into the house, headed into the vacant bedroom, put down my supplies, and stood back to observe the wall. It was empty and brilliantly white, just like a newly stretched canvas. However, in the middle of this 8ftX10ft masterpiece there was an undeniable flaw. A hole the size of a fist managed to land itself in the center of this once harmonious work of art. I took a seat on the empty bed. It’s a wall, Brittany. Turn your right brain off and think logically for a minute.
Now, I’m not always the most teachable person. I don’t like to ask for help or show any uncertainty (aka, I don’t like to pull the “damsel in distress” card…even though I know that’s not what I’m doing. Humility, Brittany. Learn some). So, I did what I do best in these situations. I called my Dad. After assuring him that I was not the target of a punch and that I was not in any sort of “sticky situation”, he told me that he couldn’t really coach me through this over the phone (and being 700 miles away didn’t help much either). “Why don’t you ask one of the construction guys to teach you,” he said. I think my dad knows my stubbornness better than anyone else, and he could tell that I wasn’t about to embarrass myself by not knowing how to patch a wall. I couldn’t do it, even though I know the guys would be more than willing to teach me (God and I are working on this humility thing, I promise).
After reading the directions on the back of the nifty little wall patching kit, and doing some Google action on my blackberry, I decided to give it a go. I mean it couldn’t be that difficult, right?
After reading the directions on the back of the nifty little wall patching kit, and doing some Google action on my blackberry, I decided to give it a go. I mean it couldn’t be that difficult, right?
Difficult…yup. Time consuming…oh, yeah! Maybe I can attribute my slow pace to my lack of wall patching experience or maybe it’s the fact that I’m a perfectionist, I don’t really know. Let’s just say that in this world of instant gratification, I was ready to be done with this project about 10 minutes after starting it.
While attempting to fix this wall, my attitude was pretty pitiful. I really didn’t want to do it anymore. At this point, I didn’t think I was doing it right and I was upset that someone would put a hole in a wall anyway. Did it fix anything? Maybe it felt good, but I’m doubtful it really had any impact reconciling the situation. I think it was around the third round of putty and sanding (yes, I know now that I didn’t need to do three rounds), I started to think, “Brittany, you’re life is a lot like this wall.” Now, I can assure you that I’m not losing it. I had a window open for ventilation, I promise. Just stick with me for a minute.
When I first walked into the room, my creative mind told me, “Brittany, this wall is a canvas. However, it’s flawed and it’s up to you to restore it.” While puttying away, I began to think about how God is a restorer. Our lives are a canvas before a Creative Artist, and as disciples of Jesus, we have given God total control to create whatever he chooses. However, I know in my life there are times when I decide to interrupt and take over. I decide to spatter my own dose of mess onto the canvas and leave it an incomplete work. When God stands back and sees distortion because I have chosen to be disobedient, He has every right to throw down His supplies, stomp out of the room, and slam the door behind Him. Boy, am I thankful God doesn’t respond like I do. Instead, He waits patiently for me to surrender to Him, and then He begins the beautiful work of restoration.
God doesn’t send someone in to do the repairs for Him. Like a loving parent claims their child, God claims us as His. Distorted, broken, and out of order, we are still the sons and daughters of a loving Abba. He begins to pull away the chipping, cracked, and broken pieces, which can be painful and slow at times. However, rejoice! The beauty is on the horizon! He sees the completeness of what is to come, and the finished masterpiece is taking form. After removing the damage, He begins to cover us. His mercy, love, hope, kindness, and goodness, are plastered upon us. A new texture begins to take form as we are made more and more like our Creator. He takes His time. He does everything perfect. He makes the ridged areas smooth and doesn’t complain about having to repeat the process again when we screw it up. At the end of it all, he covers us with a layer of forgiveness. He paints over us the blood of Jesus. We have been restored and made complete again because of the work of Christ. We can’t change ourselves, we can’t repair our brokenness, and we can’t fix our problems. It is only through Christ that we can be restored to the work of art God intended us to be. It is only through this Creative Genius we can become a new creation.
I don’t know if any of that made sense. It could very well be just be a bunch of babble to some. However, God is active and sometimes He teaches us things through unusual circumstances like, restoring broken walls.
“But seek the welfare of the city where I have sent you into exile, and pray to the Lord on its behalf, for in its welfare you will find your welfare.” Jeremiah 29:7
By Brittany Anthes
May 2012
