This series is titled (obviously), what you might miss by taking the freeway through life. The freeway is the easier way, but there is a richness in God’s country just like what you miss by jetting through God’s life in the fast lane.

Ruminations from examining housing architecture

You can also see God’s hand in the work of his creatures; after all, man was created in the image of God. There is one particular house off road a ways that always catches my attention. It’s built on a hill. Coming from the north, it appears to be three stories tall, but I think it’s really only two stories tall with a walk-out basement. If you look at the roof of this building, there must be three or four sections, with valleys and ridges all over the place–it’s quite pleasing to the eye. Unless you’re planning on replacing the shingles on it, that is. Another feature of this house is a lovely wrap-around porch. Over all, I find it very charming.

It’s empty. There’s a for-sale sign by the drive. This gorgeous house (on the outside) is barren, lonely, and lifeless on the inside, waiting for people to fill it. Which is just like many of the structures built by God, the image that the house builders are based on. Humans, no matter how gorgeous, lively or fulfilled their lives appear from the outside, all have a dark chasm on the inside that howls for God whenever the wind blows, and aches for him when things are still. A chasm, that is, until God comes into the building and gives life–and life to the fullest.

Many people try to fill that chasm with things and activities and friends, which does about as much good as filling a house with dust, spiders and mice–maybe a family or two of squirrels. Nothing will really fill the chasm except a personal, faith and grace based relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

The home of the family that hosted us for the evening was around 5 years old. An A-frame log cabin type home, it utilized a ton of engineering tricks to get a real log feel with the convenience of a modern home. For example, the log exterior was logs cut in half, but the ends were left whole. Inside, 1/4 logs lined the walls–you couldn’t tell there was wood and concrete inside them. A plastic chicken wire net keeps the barn swallows out from under the eaves. A valley runs up to one side of the house for a nearly hidden walk out basement, letting the unfinished level can be used for equipment storage. It has a first floor laundry with a shoot from the upstairs bedroom, and a roller clothes line 10 feet from the washer. And that’s just a sample of the clever conveniences. Inside, the walls are tastefully lined with trophy turkeys, deer, pheasant, and fox. A real woodsman’s palace.

Their home is a simple example of architectural ingenuity and creativity, which in turn is an example of the creativity and ingenuity of their Creator. God created man (people) in His image. He created them to create, like their Creator. And to create creatively! But even creativity can’t contain the chasm that creaks and groans for it’s Creator.

Our world is fallen, in need of a Savior.

As always, comments are welcome and encouraged.

Part 3: Ruminations on a fallen world, coming Tuesday @ 4:30 p.m.!