For 35 years I’ve observed some old fence posts at various places on our farm. I cut a piece off one of those old posts and from the “smell” it was clearly cedar – that explains why bugs have not destroyed them!
Until around 1900, this part of northern Indiana where we live, had many large native Eastern Red Cedar trees, reaching 2’-3’ in diameter! There still are a lot of those Cedar trees…but a large one is extremely rare. And yes, that’s the same variety used to make cedar chests and closets because the oil in the wood will repel bugs for many, many years.
As I looked at those posts over the years, I noticed that the shapes are “close to square”, “almost rectangle”, and some are “almost triangle”. This means they had to be made “by hand”, but how? As I read about this I learned that the early settlers knew that the “heartwood” of the Red Cedar would last for years and years in the ground. To get down to nothing but the “heartwood”, they would have to shave off the outer layer of wood called the “sap wood”. This would most likely have been done using a drawing knife. Then the posts could be split out of the heartwood logs using axes and wedges. That’s why they all have slightly different shapes.
Knowing the history of this property and how most likely that fence post is well over 100 years old, I just keep thinking there are some great metaphors and comparisons to share and for you to think about! Like the one in the picture, sometimes when I’ve gone past that post over the years, I think things like…”I wonder if when the man who made that post and drove it in the ground, did he think it might still be there over 100 years later?” Then I look at that post and I think…are the trees trying to push it out? OR are the trees there to help protect it?
Now lets think about skyscrapers…with constant maintenance, materials and repairs, some skyscrapers can last close to 100 years – but most lose structural integrity before then and are demolished.
Think again to when those fence posts were made with no electricity or power tools of any kind. Just hand tools and knowledge past down most likely from father to son. And the people are gone but that post is still standing!
”My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV). When it seems like we’re getting surrounded with problems or trials from all sides of our lives and we begin to feel weak, that’s when we need to remember that our strength to go on comes from the Grace freely given from God – if we ask him for it. I’ve been there and experienced that Grace many times just as I’m sure many of you have!
I’m going to choose a positive metaphor about the fence post in the picture…I think the trees around it are there to help protect it. God can do the same for us. If we feel all alone with our problems in life, he can surround us with “help” to get us through it and be content if we ask him to. “…for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” Philippians 4:11 (NIV).
Keep Standing!
Till Next Time…..
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