Good Bones

Good Bones

When it comes to real estate, I’m the kind of shopper I hate. I have a good idea of what I’d like, but I waffle. A house could have most of the things on my list and still not feel right. Or it could meet my admittedly quirky criteria but be on the wrong end of the right block. Or need a little too much “fixer-upping.”

The cute-outside cottage on the ideal block was already under contract and riddled with goofy mural painting in almost every room. It was as if the owner had picked up a do-it-yourself trompe l’oeil manual and tried every trick in the book. (Let’s just say the eye was not fooled.)

The neat little house on the historic register had great possibilities but literally no reasonable place for a bed. (Maybe historic means “twin bed only” or “roll-up mat”?)

I’ve heard people say they chose their house because it had good bones, and I’m wondering if there isn’t some wisdom there. Good bones says, “I see what this could be. The foundation is strong and solid. I could build on this and make something beautiful of it.” Readiness says, “I’m willing to begin today.”

Once, in a conversation with a friend of mine, I floated a theory I called “first available.” (This was when smoking was an option in most restaurants.) It went something like this: when you’re really, really hungry and ready to eat and the hostess asks, “Smoking, nonsmoking, or first available?” you say, “First available.” Right?

Maybe the house that’s supposed to be my home will be the first house I see that makes my heart flutter at least a little, has room for a grown-up bed (and a gas stove, please!), and good bones—and I will see it when I’m really, truly ready to make it my own.

Here’s the surest lesson that house hunting has taught me so far: I’m very, very thankful Jesus observed my flaws and decided he could work with nothing more than good bones (or rather not-so-good ones). It is sweet to be his, even though there’s no end to the improvements needed to make me wholly inhabitable. Somehow, miraculously, he committed to me, and is making himself more at home every day.

Your love has always been our lives’ foundation, your fidelity has been the roof over our world.

Psalm 89:2, MSG