a work in progress

the view outside my apartment window

Construction here is such a funny thing. In some ways, construction in China progresses so quickly. It seems a new building can be constructed overnight. But other times, progress is very, very sloooow.

Take our living quarters for example.

This past fall, construction began for a new apartment building that is to be erected directly behind my own. And all year long, we have heard the “progress” the construction workers have been making. All day long. Every day. The workers will begin at 6am and continue late into the night. 

Hammering. Talking. Drilling. Yelling. Pounding. 

And despite all the noise (all day long), there is absolutely no visible progress. I watch them everyday from my apartment window - just waiting for the magical day when some sign of progression will appear. 

And everyday - nothing. 

Only a few mounds of boards and a pile of dirt. 

Tonight, after a long heart talk with my roommate, I once again creeped out my window to see the “construction” happening below. 

“These construction workers have been working so hard all year, and I really can’t see anything they’ve done.” I complained. 

“I feel like that’s us sometimes,” my roommate wisely responded. “We work so hard, and yet, sometimes it appears there’s no progress. No fruit of His work within us.”

I inwardly sighed with agreement.

“But” my roommate encouraged me, “someday soon, it will all come together. And when it does, we’ll be surprised at how much has been happening all along.”

I know that it is very possible that I could wake up tomorrow to see a new apartment building behind my own (seriously - things can almost be built overnight here!). And when that day comes, I will know that all along….these long and noisy past few months were not in vain. Something was happening. Some progress was being made. Even if it was hidden to the eye.

To be honest, my roommate is right on.

These last few months have been a little long. There is noise and pain and things happening within my heart and life….and yet. I don’t always see the immediate progress. And its hard for me. If I don’t see the fruit, its easy to attribute failure. Were these last few months in vain? 

I want the building. I want the fruit, but I don’t always want to wait for the foundation. 

I trust that He is working here. Working in me and through me and around me - even if the progress is sometimes slow and a little hidden at times.