Building On A Sure Foundation
Have you ever met a true craftsman woodworker? Maybe they were a finish carpenter, a cabinet maker, a furniture maker. Perhaps they are professional in their trade, or perhaps they are a hobbyist, their workmanship and love for their craft shows up in the finished product. So studied and committed are they that we marvel at the finished product they produce.
The foundation contractor though…now that’s a trade that rarely gets a lot of public attention or praise. Their work gets little to no press. Folks like to see the fine finishes that go into and onto the home, yet none of them will last if the foundation cracks and the house begins to fall.
The foundation is fundamental. It is essential to the building of a beautiful home that is built to endure for generations, built to withstand seasonal storms, built to be maintained and enjoyed and make memories in with those you love and meet.
The foundation for your life, for your dreams, for your business is fundamental and essential. What are those things? Pondering the metaphor of building a house helps us well as we assess and grow upward, grow forward, grow rightly.
Surface and subsurface conditions: What is the condition of the soil? That is a huge question the builder asks as they prepare to build. Is the ground suitable to build on? Is there anything going on beneath the surface that will undermine the structural integrity needed to undergird what is planned? A naïve builder wouldn’t know to look. A lazy builder wouldn’t take the time to look. A careless builder wouldn’t remember to look. A Master Builder is a craftsman, and always takes the time to look and prepare the ground, level the surface, check and mold for adequate drainage, always checking their work and referring, always, to the plan.
What condition is the soil of your life? The soil of your business or your dream? These can seem like esoteric questions and might be hard to answer for some, let alone discuss. But the condition and stability of the ground we build on, if it’s a business or career we’re talking about, your family, your health – the soil condition is a discussion about the heart and the spirit.
I asked three questions in last week’s post that we tend to ponder as we assess our progress. They are foundation questions and, in my experience, tend to come up as we endure longer seasons of “slogging up the hill”. We’re wondering if we can make it. If it’s worth it. If we’ve got what it takes. These are real-life, gotta-to-through-em seasons and questions. Ask anyone who’s raised young kids, goes through the teenage years, processed the loss of a dream or a struggling marriage, struggles and strives in building or growing or surviving a down-cycle in a business, works hard trying to earn a promotion, launch a non-profit, pastor a church, walk a loved one through disease or trauma…You find out (or are finding out) what the condition of the soil is and if the foundation is strong enough. Perhaps you’re going through some of these things right now.
As a friend, a co-worker, a coach – I’m sharing this not because I have this stuff dialed in. I’m sharing it because it’s true, because I care, because (even as I write) I realize I need the reminder myself. The two most critical elements to our foundation – the two essentials to enduring and success in life, family, business, dream building…Unconditional love and Absolute truth.
If you know that it is absolutely true that you are unconditionally loved, what you build on that will stand. Your life. Your family. Your business. Your dreams. If you’re not sure, or don’t know, they can’t. They won’t last. I know that’s blunt, but it’s true. You might have the looks, the personality or the money to build a nicely accessorized life, family or business. You might even be the hardest working, bada$$ sonovagun that ever lived…but those things are not foundational. They can’t hold up your life – your family – your business. They can get you by for a while – but they can’t last.
Everyone, regardless of those things, must build on a foundation that will support what is built, be it modest or mansion-esque. Things built on wrong foundations crack, crumble and ultimately fall. But built on a sure foundation, what is built will last your whole life – and beyond!
The condition of the soil of your life and the essential elements of the foundation on which you build can be assessed and found lacking – and (good news!) they can be retrofitted with great care, skill and workmanship!
Sending today to encourage your heart to build – to dream – to focus – to believe!
Reach out if you’d like to share something stirring inside or if setting aside time to chat would be helpful. Email is just down below.
Peace~
Craig
