The Right Reference Point

Recently I was given a great reminder of the importance of our reference point.  I have been working on a small retaining wall lately, and it has been challenging puzzle to solve.  I have spent days and nights trying to come up with the ideal layout, materials and drainage to retain soil as well as keep water from flowing into the garage.  Our soil tends to drain quite well, but when we have a massive downpour the surface water needs a place to go quickly--or else it will rush right into the garage.

I decided to go with concrete sleepers rather than a block wall, and it was no small undertaking to find a local supplier with the material I was looking for.  After many trips picking up gravel and concrete, I dug the post holes and encountered some unexpected complications.  The area I was digging into had drainage pipes running through it I needed to be careful to avoid.  I was not able to place posts hard against the footing of the garage because the foundation was not vertical.  This meant I needed to form and pour concrete between the footing and two of the posts.  The height of the other two posts of the square I created were determined from the posts against the garage.

Where I made a mistake was in determining the fence alongside was square to the house because it looked square.  It was not until the final two posts were concreted in and I was fitting the heavy concrete sleepers into the gap where it became evident the fence was not square, and thus the sleepers were not square either.  It was a classic case of compounding errors, that the 3rd post being slightly crooked meant the 4th post was out of square as well.  The wall ended up level and plumb, but unfortunately it is hard on my eyes being out of square.  I have decided it will fulfil the purpose it was designed for, and that is the main thing.

The skewed wall has taught me the importance of choosing the right reference point and to string lines with a square from that point to ensure good results.  Today I heard a sermon about the importance to fix our eyes on Jesus in faith and actively trust Him at all times.  If Jairus only looked at his situation--his sick daughter being declared dead--he would have been adrift, dismayed without comfort or hope for the future.  When he chose to make Jesus his point of reference, he was urged by Jesus:  "Be not afraid, only believe." (Mark 5:36)  Jairus did not need to be afraid because Jesus was and is able to overcome death and give life.  It is silly to "eyeball" a retaining wall for the correct levels or to use a fence as a reference point, and let us as God's people make Him our point of reference, our Rock of salvation, the perfect One to align ourselves with to live wisely and uprightly.