Glimpses of the grand plan
Glimpses of the grand plan.
Building a birdhouse is relatively easy. The tools required are few, and the skill set is pretty basic. Given the popularity of DIY shows on TV and the sensationalization of “flipping houses,” the construction market was suddenly filled with experts. All of these experts nearly drove me crazy.
It is amazing the arrogance I encountered when actually doing work. Everyone knows better, and I can’t begin to count how many times I have heard someone say, “I saw a YouTube video and you are doing it wrong.” Working in construction has caused me to change. I missed the order found in drilling deepwater wells where everyone knew how much was at risk and how much things cost. There is a line from the Godfather stating, “Every time I try to get out, they keep pulling me back in,” This pretty much sums up the past 6 years in construction.
How you view faith is your prerogative. In my story, my faith is the cornerstone of the man I have become. I have caught glimpses of the big picture–especially in trying times of my career. There were moments that could not be explained by mere chance. When I got into helping post-Harvey, I was inspired by a passage in the Book of Isaiah 6:8, Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, “Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?” And I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Every time I wanted to quit and go back to the oilfield I found glimpses of the big picture and saw that the work I am doing is actually changing people's lives.
I built my first mission house back in 2007 in Juarez, Mexico, and my most recent back in 2019 in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. These houses were such an honor to build; they changed people’s lives, and that is one of the greatest feelings. I began to understand the “why” in my story. In 2020 when everything came to a screeching halt, I stayed busy. I just kept building. In many ways 2020 taught me the importance of the trade I was learning. I was helping change the lives of people who were suddenly having to work from home.
The bigger thing I learned through building was that I played a critical role in building a bridge between labor and the homeowners/business owners. My ability to communicate and to relate to the men and women of the various trades was awesome. It was truly awesome to be able to share my experience of working in their home countries while leading them to complete homes in price ranges that would take a lifetime to be able to afford. I was learning how to take care of those that took care of me. I was in charge of the contract that ensured we all got paid.
In many ways I have come to better understand what it is to be a service company. I am here to facilitate the performance of a service, whether it is simply painting a wall or building out a new kitchen. My job is to put men & women behind tasks. Not everyday is fruitful; some days I get dirty and other days I revel in the beauty of a well designed space. I have learned to trust in the big picture and know that the work I do serves a purpose. I have learned to let go of wanting to control everything and trust in the plan, the grand plan.
