Rough Edges and Power Tools

I’ve learned more in this deck-building process than I ever thought I would. And we’re still building. When my husband committed to this massive DIY project, I didn’t think I’d have much of a hand in it. I might be a lover of HGTV and Fixer Upper, but I’m just watching it for the part where they stage the home— I’m a sucker for home decor. Despite my expectations, my husband showed up one day with a truck full of wood and a pallet of concrete, and I found myself chipping in.

We had hoped to find wood from Home Depot to set the posts for our sunshades and eventual pergola, but 6×6 posts have been hard to come by. Apparently, there are many of us tackling DIY projects with extra time and an “I can do that” attitude. We were finally able to find what we needed at Discount Lumber. These tall posts were rough, and I had to protect my hands with thick gloves as we carried them one by one to our backyard. It hadn’t been easy to find the size of lumber we needed, and though it was finally in hand, it wasn’t usable yet. Looking at the posts, I could envision all of the splinters I’d have to pull out of my sons’ hands if we left them as-is.

So before we could install the posts, I had the task of planing them. While my husband was at work, and my kids were distracted or sleeping, I went out back and started smoothing the posts. I put on noise-canceling headphones, safety glasses, and a respirator mask and got to work. The wood started a shade of red, but the color lightened as I pushed the power tool down the 12-foot length, unearthing the next layer. It took multiple passes down each side to make the lumber smooth to the touch. I enjoyed the repetitive process, watching the wood change as I shaved the tiniest fraction off with each glide across the top. It was a messy process, sawdust blew out the side of my planer and coated my yard and occasionally myself when the wind gusted at the right time. But I was entranced by the process, watching the grain become exposed and marveling at the beautiful patterns nature created. It took me about eight hours to finish all six posts (and that was before staining them), but the work was worth it.

Spending hours on a mesmerizing task allowed my mind to wander, and I found myself feeling a bit like that plank of wood. I thought of my many rough edges and how God has patiently and persistently shaved them down. I thought of how he used my grief and fear to make me more empathetic and loving, exposing a grain that looks like him. I thought of the humbling times and how that process, though painful, made me more like Christ, and therefore more beautiful. And I thought of how many moments and lessons it’s taken, how his work in changing me hasn’t occurred in one smooth pass but has been a long, slow process, messy at times but worth the work. I’m grateful for the carpenter who has taken his time with me, who has seen my rough edges but has loved me enough to shave them down, not just to make me beautiful for the sake of beauty, but to be used for his glory. It’s a process, as you remember, we’re still building.

“I’m not saying that I have this all together, that I have it made. But I am well on my way, reaching out for Christ, who has so wondrously reached out for me. Friends, don’t get me wrong: By no means do I count myself an expert in all of this, but I’ve got my eye on the goal, where God is beckoning us onward— to Jesus. I’m off and running, and I’m not turning back.” Philippians 3:12-14 MSG