Coming Home Part Four

A rule of thumb with problems is that they come in threes.  Returning home this year, my problems came in four groups of three.  In the Lord’s mercy, they didn’t come all at once.  There was the water heater, in-floor heat, the HVAC system, multiple waterfront issues.  The last group came in the form of our boat lift cover and the frame that supports it.  The boat lift cover is a heavy canvas laid over a light duty frame and attached to the frame with heavy duty cord.  The frame in turn sits on four round aluminum posts.  Each post has a flange that is bolted to the frame.

The welds on all the support have broken.  I’ve repaired the two next to the floating dock, but now I have to repair the two out in open water.  One broke off completely and created a couple skylights in the boat cover.  I don’t understand it.  It’s only 25 years old!

To start with, I am the first to admit that this is a first world problem.  In fact, it is embarrassing to even bring it up.  I mean, doesn’t everyone have a ski boat and live on the water?  Paul counsels me in 1 Timothy 6:7-8 “For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it.  But if we have food and clothing [a ski boat and waterfront], we will be content with that.” 

On the other hand, I am the steward of this property, and I feel an obligation to maintain it.  Hence, the rest of the story and Part 4.

In my effort to fix things, I can quickly forget where my true power lies.  Pride and arrogance quickly show their ugly heads.  “I can do this.  I don’t need any help.  I can do this by myself.”  Maybe, but not without falling flat on my face.  “Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall.”  (Proverbs 16:18)

The first problem was getting to the posts to work on them.  I try to have faith the size of a mustard seed, but I still cannot walk on water.  Our ski boat wasn’t in the water yet, so that wouldn’t work.  We have paddleboards but they aren’t a very stable work platform.  We have the Waverunners: a better platform but no cigar.  Finally I settled on an inflatable swim platform that was very stiff and would support several hundred pounds.  I lashed it tightly between the two posts.  I laid out three 2x8 planks: one end resting on the floating dock, the other end resting on the inflatable platform.  Adding a piece of plywood on the inflatable platform made it a stable and sturdy work platform.

In “Bob mode,” I went through all kinds of iterations trying to come up with the best method to do these repairs.  But even my best ideas couldn’t hack it.  I was getting discouraged.  So, as a last resort (isn’t it always), I turned to God in prayer asking for help.  “Why don’t you ask around?” came the answer.  “After all, you meet Wednesday morning with some of the most talented workmen in our church.”  Hmm.  Good idea.  So, I did.  I got lots of suggestions and ideas.  These eventually led to the final solution and success.

Fixing the broken welded connections required drilling and setting stainless steel bolts and nuts.  This actually turned out to be the easiest part of the project.  I would like to say that the repair went without a hitch.  But no.  I hit my head three times and almost fell in four times.  I am thankful for God’s protection.  “I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”  (Isaiah 41:10)  I am so grateful for God and the brothers He used to answer my prayers.  My current prayer is that there will not be a Part 5.