
Momma said, “One mans’ trash is another mans’ treasure.”
Together Dave and I sorted out his wood supply. Generally, when he has a new addition he just adds it to any pile. Not anymore. We laid it all out on the garage floor to determine what is Red Oak from White Oak; separating it from the Walnut and Maple…you get the idea.
It will be helpful when he is looking for a specific wood for his latest project; knowing just where to find it. That is after making an Inventory List. Wasted time?
Not at all. It’s every bit as important as cataloging your quilt fabric. I suppose you don’t do that either. But you have your own treasured things. Perhaps useless to some, likely your kids, who want nothing to do with what took you a lifetime to accumulate. But you know what has potential use. How many times have you gone to get any given object, that you know you have somewhere, only can’t put your hands on it? At least not when you need it. Speaking for self, often I have gone on a hunt only to find what I was looking for last month, but not finding what I need today.
Maybe I need a running list of what is where too. Most likely I would misplace my list. Is there any hope for us? Being creative takes so much space…and time if we have to hunt it down. If I look too long, the feeling passes. This is why we organize folks!
It brings to mind what my father experienced on his (decidedly) last trip. We were still living in our home state of Michigan and Dad, with his wife were staying in a hotel. Their choice not ours, but that’s another story.
Apparently, they brought along some valuables. Not all hotels offer a safe in the room, so they scouted around, trying to find a secure spot. It seems there were several secure spots. Dad would put his valuables one place, then decide, no this other spot is better. Only to find yet another good hiding place. The problem is, he was having trouble remembering where the last safe place was. The light dawned. They shouldn’t be traveling anymore. It was too easy to forget important things.
I get it and so does Jesus. No one wants to lose what they consider valuable. That is how Jesus feels about his creation. I’m talkin’ people, you and I. He had a specific purpose for each of us and knows our potential. That is, what we can do with his help. That is where hope can be found.