It has been an avalanche — of generosity.
I’ve never seen anything like it.
Yesterday the stucco went on the wall, beautifully textured over the pilasters and cap. Yum brown and perfect! The contractor discounted the price by $1,200.
Today the decorative lighting goes up. A friend paid for it all, and for the night-time flood lighting too, $3,200.
In a week or so our concrete contractor will be back to connect the underground drains to the street. He gave us a $5,000 when he built the wall and laid the base material for the walks.
A month ago the stone pavers went in. Now the large stage and walkways are gorgeous in warm browns and dark charcoal greys. The discount — it was close to $10,000.
Last night we hooked up the irrigation valves to the sprinkler system. A beautiful, green carpet of tall fescue will go in Saturday. The labor for the irrigation and sod installation — free.
It’s been like that at The REFINERY.
We set out three years ago — a relatively small church — to create an interior courtyard on our site, a sacred space for outdoor worship, for weddings, for picnics, for parties, for children, for everyone, for our community.
A few months from now we will dedicate this space with a huge celebration. It will need to go on for a week. There are that many people to thank!
The architectural plan — donated. The landscape plan — donated. All the funds spent — they were freely given over several year by many people, in huge and unexpected amounts, and in small regular amounts, a $20 gift here, $10,000 there, $9 here, $1,200, $50, $1, $18,000 — it poured in, it ran over the edge of the cup, it is still coming in, we are almost there, amazing!
What do we make of this?
Several things come to mind.
Despite all the difficulty of life, vision remains — art also, and beauty and hope. And we see that resources follow vision and are multiplied by generosity which is inspired by a new thing made lovely. Gorgeous dreams inspire people, and above all there is God — and he is good.
More could be said.
What seems appropriate is simply, “Thank you!”
Thrive! 