Tip of My Iceberg

I’ve heard so many people comment, “They don’t make houses the way they used to.”

Looking at the demise of our current bathroom, I’d have to agree.

We’ve lived in our home for thirty years, and for the past eight years, we’ve been unable to use our bathtub because the drain didn’t work and the faucets didn’t turn on as they should. The sink became disconnected from the countertop several years ago, and the toilet leaked.

It was a problem.

We saved so we could redo the bathroom because it became increasingly obvious that trying to continue to repair what was broken was a wasted effort. Even as the contractors have worked on the space, they’ve discovered issues below the floor that couldn’t be seen without demolition.

It’s incredibly inconvenient right now. But knowing neither John nor I could fix what was wrong, we checked out individuals who were qualified to do the job and came well recommended.

Everything breaks at some point. We’ve made do with our bathroom to the point where the workarounds aren’t inconvenient; I just operate as if being broken is normal.

In a way, that is true. None of us is perfect; we all have issues that we’re constantly working on, areas of our lives that we recognize as needing improvement. I often think of how much I’d like a personal redo to smooth some of my rough edges and correct some of my obvious mistakes.

That is part of being human.

It’s also human to not want to admit we’re broken.

One day, Jesus was leaving the city of Jericho with His disciples, and a large crowd was following Him. As they got through the town, a blind beggar sat beside the road and heard that Jesus was passing by. He called out loudly to get Jesus’ attention. Many of the people around him tried to quiet him. But he only shouted louder.

“When Jesus heard him, He stopped and said, ‘Tell him to come here.’…’What do you want Me to do for you?’ Jesus asked. ‘My Rabbi,’ the blind man said, ‘I want to see!’ And Jesus said to him, ‘Go, for your faith has healed you.’ Instantly the man could see, and he followed Jesus down the road.” Mark 10:49-52.

This man recognized his own brokenness, which he couldn’t fix or improve. He sought Jesus’ help, believing He could correct what he no longer wanted to live with. What’s fascinating is how the crowd reacted to his pleas–they didn’t want him bothering Jesus with his problem.

And yet, that’s exactly why Jesus came. To help us with the problem of our brokenness, to free us from having to pay the penalty for our own imperfections.

I don’t have the skill set to renovate my bathroom, much less try to renovate my life. I need someone qualified to forgive my mistakes and create in me a renewed heart. I need compassion and acceptance even when I make miserable choices or hurt someone I love.

We found the perfect people to reconstruct our bathroom. They have high standards and are doing an amazing job.

I found Jesus, who has fully forgiven me and loves me no matter what I do. He knows my limitations and chooses to love me despite them.

Have you ever considered a personal renovation project?

Now may be the time.