Establishing Solid Bases

As he scraped ice near the front door last spring, one of the men in our condo building didn’t like the hollow sound he created. He also noticed cracks. After some discussion the condo board consulted an expert, the men living in the building took a walk around the premises where they found additional incriminating evidence, and all agreed repairs were necessary. Recently, two monstrous trucks and a group of workmen finally arrived. They drilled holes the size of a quarter in key locations and forced sand under the concrete through the holes to provide a solid base. The estimated price tag was hefty.

From my perspective, the entire event was mind-boggling. Concrete is always poured on solid ground—it can’t hang in mid-air. Apparently the ground settled, shifted, after it was poured and the concrete was held up only by its connections around the edges. When the men saw what needed to be done and took care of it, they demonstrated a Biblical truth. The Apostle Paul said, There are different kinds of gifts, . . . ( I Cor. 12:4 NIV) People are instructed to recognize each other’s giftings and work together. I’m so proud of them. Because the cracks are no longer problematic, our front door remains pleasant, welcoming.





That’s my reflection—I’d have dressed up if I’d known I’d be visible. You can also see a portion of the high school athletic field across the street.

When the trucks and workmen drove away, my husband Ken was left with the bill. (He’s gifted in the area of keeping records so he serves as treasure.) He looked at me and asked if I’d ever think to check for support under the concrete. The idea struck me as ludicrous—it wouldn’t enter my mind. He commented, We’d have let it settle until we had huge cracks and then had to replace the whole thing.

Instead, when we surveyed the completed project, we saw that not only are two areas with cracks level, but the concrete drive is level with the garage aprons. And none of the concrete sounds hollow.


Settling or shifting bases aren’t limited to concrete. In fact, several of my bases have shifted in recent years:

1. I’ve gone through major relationship changes—key people I depended on are no longer available.
2. I realized an institution was not what I thought it was.
3. Ken and I have made two major moves since retirement, each requiring adjustments.
4. Some of my ideas haven’t stood the test of time, either—things I thought rock-solid turned mushy.

No wonder friends say, Aging isn’t for sissies. To make matters worse, I understand that although adjusting can become harder with age, it also becomes more important.

This leads me to a second Biblical truth: God is my base, my support. Before He ascended into heaven, Jesus told Peter, “when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.” (Jn. 21:18 NIV)

Could Peter have adjusted to the travel, ministry, and finally, the up-side-down crucifixion that made up his future without God as His ultimate support? He wrote, Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, . . (I Pet. 1:8,9 NIV)

God outlasts people, institutions, locations, ideas. He also brings in new people, institutions, locations, ideas. I know it sounds simplistic, but when I quiet my heart, He’s available. This has been the testimony of Christians throughout the ages, whatever their circumstances.

As for our condo, would you believe that addressing the problem early meant everything went well and the company we hired cut the bill by just over 25%?

I praise God because the cost was lower than anticipated. I praise God because the men in our condo were able to work together. And I praise God because He is my base, the One who holds me up when my the rest of my world begins to shift.