My brothers and I always dreamed of building a tree house. When we were young teenagers, we found this perfect stand of trees in the woods behind my buddy’s house. We hand-logged some lumber from the forest with the army-navy-store machetes we’d saved up for. When that was done, my older brother climbed into the tip-top of the tree to nail the massive wooden beams in place. We used all the rope we had to hoist the huge trunks into the canopy, so my brother did not have enough rope to make a safety harness, but that didn’t slow him down. Without explaining to us on the ground what he was doing, he removed his pants while clinging to the tree thirty feet above the forest floor.
“What are you doing?” I yelled.
“I need to tie myself to the tree so I can nail this big log in,” I watched in amazement as he managed the awkward but impressive bit of high-wire innovation. I remember vividly that the pants in question were a pair of polyester khaki dress slacks; pleats in the front and a double belt loop in the back. I know that seems odd. Why was he wearing dress pants? It was a question of economics. We’d been disciplined for ruining church clothes plenty of times, and even a smudge on school outfits would earn us a lecture, so we’d turned to Goodwill. With our own money, we acquired a closet full of second-hand clothes we could ruin without getting in trouble. And ruin them we often did.
He tied the dress slacks around himself and the tree, using the pant legs as a rope. A few seconds later, he was fastened in place and ready to work. He drove massive 16-penny nails into the beam and then through the tree. With his invention, he could lean back comfortably against the trouser-tied safety contraption. He did the carpentry beautifully, however, when he untied his britches harness, he found that he had driven that huge nail right through his pants, and they were hopelessly pinned to the tree.
What would you have done? Most would probably pry the nail out and get back their dignity, but not him. He refused to remove the beam. He refused to rip the pants. The only option left to him was what he did. He left the woods in his underwear, and we walked laughing all the way home. Those pleated polyester pant legs are probably still dangling in the wind to this day.
This story of creativity, commitment, and unexpected outcomes leads us to consider the value of being prepared and the importance of wisdom in our endeavors.
"Look to yourselves, that we do not lose those things we worked for, but that we may receive a full reward." - 2 John 1:8 (NKJV)
"Hold on Tight, Plan Right"
The story of building the treehouse with an improvised safety harness is a vivid illustration of ingenuity and commitment. However, it also highlights the necessity of planning and considering the consequences of our actions. In the same way, 2 John 1:8 urges believers to be diligent and thoughtful in their spiritual walk. It's a reminder that our efforts in faith are not just about the immediate results but also about the eternal rewards that come from living wisely according to God's word.
The apostle John encourages us to "look to ourselves" - to be self-aware and to ensure that we are walking in truth and love. This caution is not about earning salvation, which is a free gift through faith in Jesus Christ, but about living in a way that reflects that faith. Just as the improvised harness was a clever solution, our lives should be built on the solid foundation of Christ's teachings, ensuring that we do not lose the rewards we have worked for in serving Him.
How can planning and preparation in our daily lives reflect our spiritual walk?
What are some ways we can ensure that we are "looking to ourselves" as John advises?
How can we balance creativity and commitment with wisdom in our endeavors?
Create a "Treehouse Blueprint" activity. Provide children with paper, pencils, and some coloring materials. Ask them to draw their dream treehouse, thinking about what materials they would need and how they would build it safely. After they're done, discuss how planning ahead helps us achieve our goals, both in fun projects like building a treehouse and in living a life that pleases God.
Just like the creative yet slightly misguided effort to secure safety in the treehouse story, our lives require careful thought and planning under God's guidance. Let's "Hold on Tight, Plan Right," making wise choices that lead to eternal rewards.
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