Everything is prophetic and I know that our journey with the Big Green House this summer has been another parable through which we are being taught about the ‘more real’ world to which we will return after our training in this ‘real’ world of time and space is completed.
When I first spoke to George from the HVAC company on the phone I sensed this was to be another messenger sent by George, our heavenly Father! (Gk. “georgios” Jn15:1) A few days later he knocked on our door and introduced himself with a warm handshake and a quip, that confirmed it. I recognized “Dad’s” sense of humor!
A few months earlier we had been sent a first messenger. Paul, the mold consultant, had the last name Ellringer so we weren’t surprised when this grandfatherly old man arrived he joined us for lunch and then spent the whole day trying to help us with our house problems….he had also proved a ‘dead ringer’ for El! Paul had said the air to air exchanger was the root cause of Ben’s illness – it’s failure to help the building ‘breath’ had lead to excessive moisture and the build up of toxic mold
George and I descended into “the heart of the beast”…..the furnace room buried in the depths of the Big Green House basement. This was where the air to air exchanger was housed.
“There’s another problem!” said George immediately pointing out the lint, weblike over the open ceiling. “The ductwork from one of your dryers is spilling this stuff out. That would account for the dangerously high CO2 levels Paul had measured in the house.” He explained.
The next day I clambered up to see if I could spot the leak. There was only a narrow space to squeeze through. I had a flashback to my obstetrics training as I manipulated my head and then shoulders to get through the tiny opening in the photo above. Pulling out the insulation I noticed at the far end a final piece of paper. Printed on it were the words, “Valley Forge”
I recalled our assignment at historic Valley Forge, Pennsylvania many years ago. It had been named after an iron forge and we learned of how the ragtag Revolutionary army had persevered through the ‘fiery trial’ of a cold harsh winter with inadequate housing, clothing and food. Under the servant leadership of George Washington the compassionate attendance of caring women, the prevailing advocacy of a few congressmen and the morale boosting influence of a Prussian military trainer an army was forged at the “Forge” – that would ultimately prove a match for the military might of the British Empire.
You could say this “Valley” was the pressurized ‘birth canal’ through which the United States of America was born.
These were the thoughts that followed my discovering ‘Valley Forge’ at the end of our basement ‘birth canal’
Hurricane Harvey has plunged America into another ‘fiery trial’. Many believe that there will be further shakings maybe through a literal physical quake, the looming financial debt crisis or a war with North Korea. Might Harvey mark the ‘breaking of the waters’ in a re-birthing of America along with the birthing of ‘the sons of God’ as described in Rm.8?
“For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body.”(v. 22,23)
……..that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God (v.21)”
P.S. As I typed these last few words of this blog, suddenly ‘out of nowhere’ the wind picked up. I dashed round the house closing windows and arrived back at the front to see our ‘seedlings’ scattered on the ground.
A groaning Creation knowing it is about to be set free?
…..with the writing of these words……. a mighty crash of thunder!!!
P.S. I just realized I was given this ‘birthing’ blog on Labor Day : – )