Waving or Drowning?

the quarry

We heard about it, then we saw it
with our eyes--
In GOD's city of angel armies,
in the city our God
Set on firm foundations,
firm forever.
(Psalm 48:8 The Message)

The wall was jasper, the color of Glory, and the City was pure gold, translucent as glass. The foundations of the City walls were garnished with every precious gem imaginable: the first foundation jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, the fifth onyx, the sixth carnelian, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth chrysoprase, the eleventh jacinth, the twelfth amethyst. The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate a single pearl. The main street of the City was pure gold, translucent as glass.
(Revelation 21:18-21 The Message)

The stone blocks for the building of The Temple were all dressed at the quarry so that the building site itself was reverently quiet--no noise from hammers and chisels and other iron tools.
(1 Kings 6:7 The Message)

And an excerpt from today's Aidan Reading (Celtic Daily Prayer):

"...Here! Not there. All the thud of hammer and falling of axes, the grating of chisels and the grinding of sand... is done here! It is the plan of the Masterbuilder that the business of making rough rock into perfectly fitting, polished stone be accomplished in the stone quarry. There, there, beyond this place, beyond that door, is only the assembling together of what has been done here."

What a great corollary to one of yesterday's questions... What if Heaven is our home?

Can I be frank for a second? There are a lot of things about my faith I don't understand. Heaven is one of them. (When I was younger in my relationship with God I pretended I had no questions. After all, monkey see - monkey do. Now, I'm getting comfortable with the questions. Actually, who's kidding who? I'm growing to love the questions! And if I ever start telling anyone that I have completely figured out this God that I worship, then please point out that I am no longer worshiping God, but some cheesy, Wal Mart imitation of a god.)

The Masterbuilder has a detailed set of plans for the Temple. Precision. Each stone measured to extremely fine tolerances, and placed according to infinitely exact surveys.

Here's the catch: All the work must be done in the Quarry. The Temple site is a Holy Place, and can't be desecrated by the dust and clatter of rock work. The rock must arrive finished and ready to be placed according to the plans.

This brings to mind a couple of issues. First is a question of context. Have you ever been to a stone quarry? They are noisy, dirty, dusty places. There's no getting around that part - given the nature of the work, that is what they are. To complain about that strikes me as futile, and to long for a cleaner, quieter quarry seems to miss the point.

A second point to consider is the process. I don't know a lot about rock work, but I do know this: Initially the work is very rough. From the wall of rock we need a stone. Sometimes drilling is needed, sometimes jack-hammering. Often explosives are necessary! Regardless of method, it's always dirty work. After the noise has subsided and the dust has settled, a rough stone is ready for work. (At this stage it should be obvious that the work is not finished, but is only beginning.)

As the stone is worked the Masterbuilder switches gradually to smaller and sharper chisels, and the measurements become much more exact. As the stone is cut there are often imperfections that the chisel exposes. Sometimes they are successfully removed and the work continues. Occasionally though the flaw requires a change of plans. The stone can still be used, but perhaps in a different location. After all, the Masterbuilder's plan is fluid, and there are constant adjustments. I imagine that there are many places in the Temple where the plans call for less precise measurements. (Rarely do stones come off the wall destined for these spots, but many are placed there when they have undergone as much work as they can stand.)

The Masterbuilder has a good eye for rock. When He determines the stone can handle it, the cuts are sharp and deep. He knows how to swing a sledge hammer! Sometimes the stone is sure it will crack under the blows, but the Masterbuilder knows better. He is kind, though. On those occasions when the stone is convinced it will shatter with one more swing, the Masterbuilder smiles gently, puts down the hammer and chisel, and finds an appropriate place in the Temple for the stone "as is". He will find another stone to fill the job He had in mind.

I am a stone. When the work on me is done and I am carried to the Temple I long to be placed where the Masterbuilder intended. I also have to admit I hope it's a good spot! To be anywhere in the Temple will mean indescribable joy and beauty - I know that - so I'm not worried. But I trust the Masterbuilder is able to do with me as He wanted. That is my goal, and in as much as I'm able to to do my part to help make that happen, that's what I will endeavor to do.

Posted by mike at April 5, 2004 05:00 PM | TrackBack