Well my latest project required replacing some soft spots in our camper floor, so last week I decided I better get started because we are going camping tomorrow, after all. I figured, a day to demo and then a day, or just a bit more, to do the repairs. HA HA HA HA HA HA!
First of all, demo took me twice as long as I expected. Of course the damaged floor area required the removal of the dinette, the freshwater holding tank, the hot water heater and the sleeper sofa. Then, as I pulled up the sub flooring, much of the framing came up too. In the end I had to replace all of the framing and sub-flooring in an 8’x8’ area in the front of the camper as well as put down a new vinyl laminate floor throughout the entire camper.
If you didn’t know this, campers are lightly built to keep weight down, hence the need to replace parts of them, like the floor, over time, because there just isn’t much substance there. I tend to over-build, so now I could probably use my camper to transport a few bulls — no problem! The walls will fall off before THIS floor goes bad again. Hey, it only took me 26 hours… no big deal… yeah, 8 of those on my July 4 holiday. Thankfully, that fun little stress-inducer is in the rearview mirror, and we are ready to spend a week camping —without worrying about busting through the floor in the middle of the night heading for a potty break.
One of the biggest challenges of putting in that new floor was once the old one was removed there were only three 1 1/2 inch aluminum I-beams to walk on as I rebuilt the floor. Step off an I-beam and I would go right through the tarp-like material that covers the bottom of the trailer. More than once I had to lurch toward a wall because I almost misplaced a step. It was quite frustrating having to concentrate so much on where to step.
But thankfully the project turned out just fine and now when we walk on the floor it is as solid as the floor in our house. While the task was difficult, it has been worth it in the end, even though I did have a few fits where I threatened to just drag the thing to the dump — now, it’s like a new camper.
King David once made a powerful observation that came to my mind as I was trying to balance on those skinny I-beams… “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path.” Psalm 119:105 NIV Did you know that Psalm 119 is the longest chapter in the Bible and the theme of the psalm is about God’s word and the difference it can make in our lives? While verse 105 is the most well known, the entire psalm offers great insight into how God uses his word to affect change in his people. For the believer, God’s word tells us where to step to keep us in the center of his will.
We are familiar with Paul’s assurances of God’s word… “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 NIV God has given his people a blueprint to help us know his will for our lives and to prepare us for serving him. A proper understanding of God’s word will lead to well placed footsteps as we navigate a fallen world.
So today I am pondering a thankfulness for the reminder of the gift God has given me in the Bible, and for the prompting to make sure that I am studying it to truly use it as a guide for the placement of feet. I trust you are as well… and if you need any cows moved… well… you know who to call.
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