Demolition of Rot

"It's ready to use today!"

The post said it. The seller said it multiple times. My gut wasn't so sure. 

After I towed the old popup camper home and popped it up, it became clear that the host of shoddy repairs had disguised a major problem. 

Two weeks ago I decided to do something fun, and bought a popup camper off of facebook marketplace. We have been tent campers since my twin boys slept in our 6 person tent in their pack'n'plays. We aren't hard core, but enjoy it. The intense humidity of the midwest summer, and the frigid cold of the winter meant that we were limited to a few months of decent weather. But a popup, equipped with a furnace and AC, meant we could camp anytime!

But when I really started examining the damage, I realized that what was meant to be fun had merely become another project.

The fresh caulk along the outside of the roof should have been my first warning, especially when he told me it hadn't been used this season. It was clear water had leaked into the roof in multiple places, and any attempts at a fix had merely locked the moisture in, causing widespread rot. 

That weekend I started tearing out the ceiling. The old styrofoam and luan wood that was destroyed. I started one-by-one replacing the crossmembers with fresh wood. I installed new foam, and a new ceiling. The next weekend I cut out the rotten wood on the outside- on the front, back and the corners of the sides, and put in fresh plywood. After reinstalling the trim, I applied tons of urethane caulk and then a rubberized coating to the entire roof. 

After all of that work, it better be structurally sound and moisture proof. And to the casual observer, it might appear that I really hadn't done much. I hadn't painted the cabinets, recovered cushions, or replaced the canvas. Aside from a brighter white roof, it looks mostly the same.

Which for me, is kind of frustrating. 

You see, I like to see massive progress quickly. I like it when the color of a house changes in a day. Or When a roofing crew or flooring crew installs new surfaces quickly. Massive external change, fast. Those are fun.

But often the most important jobs are the ones that aren't visible. They are are structural. They deal with rot, or termites, or mold. The forces that are slowly disintegrating the integrity of a structure.

We are the same way. 

It's fun to go shopping and get new clothes, or get a haircut, or a new pair of shoes. It feels so good. And it is good.

But we all have areas where wounds have been inflicted. Our "quick fixes" (shoddy repairs) caulk over the damage done in ways that work to temporarily salve the pain. But underneath it all bitterness, contempt, and malice start to eat away our souls. Shame keeps the damage in the dark, where rot can fester. 

We need the kindness of others to help us bring those areas into the light. We need kindness to ourselves in order to rip out the ceilings and replace the rafters and help us regain our integrated self – to ReStory our journey. 

Ask God- "Where am I festering? Where do I need healing and restoration?"

__________________________

Cody Buriff, Director of Resource Initiatives