Sidewalks Closed Part Two
Last fall I blogged about construction in the downtown area and mentioned two sites that had the sign "Sidewalk Closed". (www.blog.amyharvison.com/2006/10/17/sidewalk-closed.aspx ) I've been noticing those areas again as I've realized how long their sidewalks have been closed. One of those sites was where the contractor was "Building the Future" and the future is almost here. It looks as if the beautiful luxury homes are nearly ready for new owners. Soon the "Sidewalk Closed" signs will be gone and new signs of life will fill the block.
The site where the landmark building was demolished is still surrounded by construction fencing and the "Sidewalk Closed" signs on all four sides of the block. Inside the fencing is a huge hole in the ground and no progress appears to have been made in the past year. The building was once the tallest in downtown and a flourishing place of business and commerce. Then it was damaged by some severe weather in the 1980's and stood empty for years while the owners and their insurance company litigated over coverage for that damage. It was then purchased by investors who intended it to be high-rise living but questionable integrity of the structure and possibility of toxins in the old building materials made that investment a bust. There was more litigation as the building remained abandoned and empty.
A company new to downtown then bought the building as they were restoring the building across the street to its original beauty. Word on the street was that the landmark building would be demolished and a surface parking lot would replace it until the new owners decided what to build. For almost a year there was work inside the building to dismantle it, then the implosion, then several months of salvage and clean up. Now, more than a year since the implosion, no rebuilding appears to be occurring although there are workmen's trucks parked on the site every morning. I'm sure some people don't even notice it any more. I'm sure it is an eyesore to others. I heard a few months ago that the owners have decided to put in an underground parking garage in the hole, connecting it to their other building and creating a productive foundation for a future building. But based on the apparent lack of progress I wonder if it will ever be more than a gaping hole in the heart of the city.
Sometimes life can feel like that building - one with a rich and productive history, but damaged in stormy weather, suddenly empty, no longer useful or desirable, in the shadows of newer and taller buildings, embroiled in battle, toxic, not worth keeping, purchased for a low price, no defined future, taken apart bit by bit, demolished. It sometimes feel like a gaping wound exposed for everyone to see inside. Some find it unsightly and painful and look away while others don't notice it at all. Still others may stare and wonder if it will ever be full and productive again.
Last night in my dreams a friend of mine showed me a house her friends had bought and I thought they were crazy because the house was nothing but a shell - only walls with no roof and no foundation. I journaled that I want more than an empty shell - I want a good foundation and solid construction. Then I got a new blog from a friend where she ponders how the silence in the waiting is where we learn to trust God is at work even though we can't see it happening. (http://annettabox.blogspot.com/2007/06/glorious-waiting-room.html) She has been blogging about the waiting for a few months - how she sees that He has placed dreams in her heart and how she longs for them to become reality but finds it hard to trust they will come. The trusting seems so hard. For several years I have been thinking these things:
Whenever you begin to listen to and believe the lies -
Whenever you find yourself wallowing in pits of self-pity -
Whenever you return to the old habits of fleshly sin -
Whenever you feel lost on your journey -
Whenever you lose sight of your true identity and worth -
Whenever you want to run and hide -
It is because you have stopped trusting God.
You have stopped believing He is who He says He is and
You have stopped believing that He will do what He says He will do.
When we look at the gaping hole of our lives we CAN believe that we will be full and productive again because even though it appears no progress is being made, we know Father is there - doing His work way down deep - creating more than a shell. He is cleaning out debris and preparing a firm foundation that starts at bedrock so that what He builds on top will stand strong forever. We can trust that He is doing great things in the waiting even when we can't see it or hear it or feel it. The work He is doing is His dream for our lives to be all He intends for us to be in His kingdom and He won't abandon that dream. And we can rest in the fact that He is making His dreams for us our dreams as we run after Him, making Him the desire of our heart. My same friend who wrote the blog about trusting in the waiting also wrote a song a few years ago called "Outdream Us, Lord" where she recognized that His dreams for us are so far beyond what we can dream for ourselves. Why wouldn't we want His dreams - in His way and in His time? And so why wouldn't we trust Him in the waiting?
Gaping a bit - but trusting,
Amy
Ps. 138:8 The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of Your hands.
The site where the landmark building was demolished is still surrounded by construction fencing and the "Sidewalk Closed" signs on all four sides of the block. Inside the fencing is a huge hole in the ground and no progress appears to have been made in the past year. The building was once the tallest in downtown and a flourishing place of business and commerce. Then it was damaged by some severe weather in the 1980's and stood empty for years while the owners and their insurance company litigated over coverage for that damage. It was then purchased by investors who intended it to be high-rise living but questionable integrity of the structure and possibility of toxins in the old building materials made that investment a bust. There was more litigation as the building remained abandoned and empty.
A company new to downtown then bought the building as they were restoring the building across the street to its original beauty. Word on the street was that the landmark building would be demolished and a surface parking lot would replace it until the new owners decided what to build. For almost a year there was work inside the building to dismantle it, then the implosion, then several months of salvage and clean up. Now, more than a year since the implosion, no rebuilding appears to be occurring although there are workmen's trucks parked on the site every morning. I'm sure some people don't even notice it any more. I'm sure it is an eyesore to others. I heard a few months ago that the owners have decided to put in an underground parking garage in the hole, connecting it to their other building and creating a productive foundation for a future building. But based on the apparent lack of progress I wonder if it will ever be more than a gaping hole in the heart of the city.
Sometimes life can feel like that building - one with a rich and productive history, but damaged in stormy weather, suddenly empty, no longer useful or desirable, in the shadows of newer and taller buildings, embroiled in battle, toxic, not worth keeping, purchased for a low price, no defined future, taken apart bit by bit, demolished. It sometimes feel like a gaping wound exposed for everyone to see inside. Some find it unsightly and painful and look away while others don't notice it at all. Still others may stare and wonder if it will ever be full and productive again.
Last night in my dreams a friend of mine showed me a house her friends had bought and I thought they were crazy because the house was nothing but a shell - only walls with no roof and no foundation. I journaled that I want more than an empty shell - I want a good foundation and solid construction. Then I got a new blog from a friend where she ponders how the silence in the waiting is where we learn to trust God is at work even though we can't see it happening. (http://annettabox.blogspot.com/2007/06/glorious-waiting-room.html) She has been blogging about the waiting for a few months - how she sees that He has placed dreams in her heart and how she longs for them to become reality but finds it hard to trust they will come. The trusting seems so hard. For several years I have been thinking these things:
Whenever you begin to listen to and believe the lies -
Whenever you find yourself wallowing in pits of self-pity -
Whenever you return to the old habits of fleshly sin -
Whenever you feel lost on your journey -
Whenever you lose sight of your true identity and worth -
Whenever you want to run and hide -
It is because you have stopped trusting God.
You have stopped believing He is who He says He is and
You have stopped believing that He will do what He says He will do.
When we look at the gaping hole of our lives we CAN believe that we will be full and productive again because even though it appears no progress is being made, we know Father is there - doing His work way down deep - creating more than a shell. He is cleaning out debris and preparing a firm foundation that starts at bedrock so that what He builds on top will stand strong forever. We can trust that He is doing great things in the waiting even when we can't see it or hear it or feel it. The work He is doing is His dream for our lives to be all He intends for us to be in His kingdom and He won't abandon that dream. And we can rest in the fact that He is making His dreams for us our dreams as we run after Him, making Him the desire of our heart. My same friend who wrote the blog about trusting in the waiting also wrote a song a few years ago called "Outdream Us, Lord" where she recognized that His dreams for us are so far beyond what we can dream for ourselves. Why wouldn't we want His dreams - in His way and in His time? And so why wouldn't we trust Him in the waiting?
Gaping a bit - but trusting,
Amy
Ps. 138:8 The Lord will fulfill His purpose for me; Your love, O Lord, endures forever - do not abandon the works of Your hands.
Check out Avalon's CD "A Maze of Grace". The song "The Dreams I Dream for You" talks alot about this same thing. Thanks for bringing it back to mind with your blog :)
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Sometimes it is hard to remember He dreams for us, isn't it? Bless you, friend.
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