Building a home on our island is a challenging and lengthy process. You have to start with clearing the underbrush from the property so that you can see what trees you will have to keep and which ones you can remove, and also where you can place your well and septic system. Then the design work and permit application process begins, followed by further site work to remove the approved trees and prepare a building pad for the foundation. Once this is done, a crew can begin to dig the footers for the foundation and compact the rest of the foundation site, then lay down the reinforced bars of steel that will become part of the foundation. Only after then passing an inspection can the concrete be poured, creating the foundation upon which the home will be constructed.
From the time that someone takes the first steps to the time when the foundation is poured, several months will have passed and tens of thousands of dollars will have been spent (if not more), yet if you were to drive past the location and glance at the property, you would not see much difference beyond the obvious clearing of the site. The time devoted to these first steps, and the attention to detail that is demanded, sets the tone for the work that follows, and it is critical that it is done correctly, so it cannot be rushed. But, to the casual observer, it doesn’t look like much progress has been made.
Our nation has always been one that focused on results. That is at the core of a capitalistic society, where goods must be produced so that they can then be sold to consumers. This is not inherently bad, as we are all consumers and, therefore, there must also be producers. However, the increasing focus on immediate gratification can become problematic when paired with a results-driven society. The desire to have something today can cause us to look for ways to skip past the things that normally take time. Sometimes it causes us to devalue those things that take longer, regardless of how fundamental they may be to our long-term success.
The character of an individual is fundamental to success. It is molded over years, requiring devotion and attention to detail, with lessons repeated daily and often with little indication as to whether or not they are bearing fruit. Like that foundation for a home, the amount of effort invested is nearly invisible to outsiders who are therefore unable to appreciate the sacrifice and dedication required to prepare an individual to really grow. We’re fortunate that, at least in our County, you can’t build a house without a foundation first passing inspection. Unfortunately, there’s no similar inspection for the foundation of a person’s character.
We live in a world filled with significant problems. Frankly, to me it seems as though many of the issues wouldn’t exist if more people had benefitted from more investment in their foundations. Fixing that requires a willingness to pour our time and resources into places that won’t generate immediate results, but if we don’t make the investments that create solid foundations, why should we ever expect better outcomes? And please note that I am not advocating for a governmental solution here. Instead, I’m advocating individual effort where you make a choice to help by investing in someone. It is a simple solution, but it takes time to make a difference, so you have to resist the desire for immediate gratification. It starts in your own homes, but then extends out to your neighbors and your own community.
Would you pray about how you can help invest in others?
Peace and blessings – Pastor Aaron