I've always had a very good imagination, which has an affect on everything I do. With houses, the hoped for result is mulled over and formulated over a period of time until it becomes crystal clear and ever present in my mind. That visual image is something I can call upon during times of discouragement. It keeps me going during the messy yucky stages when everybody else is tired and complaining... and sometimes even walking away. I've often been alone in my various quests.

Knowing this, I usually try to steer away from projects that I cannot do all by myself. However, when our rental house burned down, I had to hire people to do many things. One of the hardest obstacles I faced was the inability to implant my vision in the minds of the people who were there to help me turn this disaster around.

When it came to the yard, I drew pictures and laid out a design on graph paper in order to create the clearest picture possible. I even colored it! Still, there were some who lacked the wherewithal to believe or appreciate that what existed at that moment would eventually become what I had planned out.

I've sometimes taken it personally, as if their lack of imagination was a reflection on me somehow, that I didn't do enough to inspire faith in the project. Other times I've reasoned that faith, vision, and/or imagination, whatever you want to call it, is a gift that some people have, and some simply don't... and I'm not just talking about home improvement here.

I have to admit that there have been occasions where I've lamented the fact that I do have it, and that it compels me to set goals and aspirations that make my life infinitely more taxing. However, since I do have it, to not act on it is simply not an option for me, even if it gets me eyeball deep into muck. I have faith that there is an end, another side, that eventually I'll cross over to something far better than what now exists, be it a better yard, a more functional kitchen, a happier family, or the ultimate in long range hoping, Heaven.

Faith. Sometimes it compels me, sometimes it propels me. Regardless, by the simple act of allowing it to exist within me, I feel I am moving toward something infinitely worthwhile.

In this day of logic, information, and reason, it appears that there are many who have made a conscious effort to eliminate anything that resembles faith, particularly faith in God from their life. It's as if they purposely try to slough it off as some repugnant trait to be disdained, thinking it a mark of ignorance, denial, lowliness of status, or that monumental shame of shames, 'political incorrectness'.

I've grown up with religion almost ever present in my life. I have never had a problem accepting that there are forces and possibilities beyond our current vision or understanding, even if there seemed to be no proof. Call it imagination if you want, but I've since had experiences which were undeniably real, which I won't get into here, but which have turned at least some parts of my faith into sure knowledge.

When I hear people talking as if there is no God, I am often taken aback. It's hard for me, (in spite of my bragged about imagination), to even imagine! I then think of the poor unenlightened workers who could not fathom that what was a patch of weeds and cement rubble, would eventually become a beautiful flagstone patio rimmed by a planter boxed hedge of arborvitae. Because of their internal blindness, they were extremely reluctant to work toward building it. Indeed, their lack of faith in me, or vision of the project, caused a state of inertia and negativity which greatly prolonged the situation I was trying to improve.

It was almost unbearable at times to work among such 'unbelievers', but I pressed forward, continuing to use whatever help showed up on my doorstep. Many fell by the wayside. It wasn't until we were finished with that yard that everyone who worked on it said "Oh...so THAT'S what you were talking about!" There was a tremendous amount of satisfaction for all who endured to the end! Some told me later that they wished they'd come earlier and worked harder.

I have absolutely no doubt that there is a grand plan to this universe. I don't have to have the whole picture before me in order to trust in God, and to work under his guidance. I know that where we might see a world of weeds and rubble, (figuratively speaking), God sees something entirely different, and is working even as I write to bring about his designs. We can either be part of it, if we will.... or... not. I choose to be a part of it.