the next step

So, here we are, back in a rural setting - now what do we do? How do we begin to move forward and carry out this vision of combining the spiritual (our relationship with God) with the physical (relating to this earth in a more intentional and harmonious manner)? For Becky the answer to this question is very clear - "Build me a house!" Her mother's house that we are presently living in is on the small side and it is (and alway will be) after all, her mother's. As Becky's husband I have had to face up to my responsibility to give Becky a home that she will truly feel is hers. So I have accepted this challenge and together we are making plans. Originally Becky wanted a "cob" house (an earthen - clay, sand and straw - structure whose popularity is making a comeback in certain circles). My son Emlyn and I took a class to learn how to build a cob house several years ago. But one thing I learned at that class was that a cob structure requires an incredible amount of manual labor, so it would be very difficult to build the size of house we want out of cob. So, we switched gears and began to plan on making a straw bale house. These structures don't have the long history behind them that cob does, but they are still considered an excellent way to build a very well insulated home with natural, inexpensive materials. But then, within just the past couple of weeks, our thinking shifted again. Now we are seriously contemplating the remodeling of an old barn that seems to have a structurally sound foundation, framework and roof already in place. Once we get a professional assessment as to the actual soundness of this idea we should finally be in a position to roll up our sleeves and actually get to work. The barn idea gets us excited because we would end up with much more space than if we were to build from scratch. Also, we can still incorporate straw bale (and even some cob) into this structure, which is really important for Becky who wants the feel (if not appearance) of an old world, Alsatian, home.

Some of our children have asked, "Why do you need such a big house?" Besides just wanting to have a place that could hold all our family when they come to visit, we also envision our home being a place of hospitality, a place of refuge. When our vision was in its infancy we had begun searching for land to buy where we could begin "fleshing out" this dream. It was a frustrating search because our lack of funds was very limiting in what we could realistically consider. But at the same time we wanted to exercise faith to do what William Carey (pioneering missionary) advocated: "Expect great things from God. Attempt great things for God." I do believe there is such a thing as a spirit of poverty that can control us with the thought, "Can I afford it?" But the
right question is, "What is God wanting us to do?" Once God's will or purposes for us are ascertained it then becomes a matter of faith to move forward and engage in the (yes, often frightening) adventure of seeing how He will enable what He has commanded. I will never forget a statement that an Old Testament professor of mine once made: "The commandments of God are His enablements - what He has commanded of us He will also enable."

So, yes, on the one hand I am rather intimidated with the idea of building, not just any home, but a large home that will encompass the "higher vision" we believe we are being called to. I never really wanted to start my own painting business, but by the grace of God I have now been painting on my own for 12 years. As God strengthened Abraham's faith by giving him bigger and bigger tests, so I see Him working similarly in me. I don't want to shy away from this newest test of faith, but rather want to embrace it and continue to grow in the ways Creator is wanting me to grow in. "The whole earth is full of His glory!" I believe we will have difficulty in seeing the fullness of God's glory in creation until we are willing to unite ourselves with Him in that actual creative process. It is a process that requires faith, and to have faith we must have ears to hear what Father is saying, and once we have heard, we must obey. This walk is not for the timid or faint of heart, but rather requires boldness and perseverance. Yet even when we are faithless, He remains faithful. It's all about Him, not us.
"Help us Father, to fully awaken to all that you are calling us, and all of your people, to walk in."