Our sons had a number of opportunities during summer jobs to get some building experience and two of our boys have their own construction company. When we started building the barn this spring the first thing Asher did was buy a long level and a plumb line. Clearly the old level I had would not do for the job. This has proven to be a good purchase. I tend to eye-ball things and Asher is quick to grab the level. Though there have been some frustrations when things have gone a little off square, by and large the level has done its good work.
The tool is a good metaphor for our lives as the poem below by Steve Garnaas-Holmes illustrates. It takes more than just eyeballing our own lives or the situations in this world to discern for love and justice, to be true to the call of right living in this world.
Plumb line
I am setting a plumb line in the midst of my people.
—Amos 7.8
How easy it is to be off balance,
to be askew,
to not see straight.
How easy it is to let my own leanings
distort what I think is upright.
When I build a great tower
and see it is off plumb,
do I have the courage
to destroy and rebuild?
God, help me
to discern justice,
to see love,
to stand straight.
Give me faith
to hold a plumb line
to this world —
to be a plumb line:
to stay true,
to bear witness,
held in your hand,
suspended by your grace.