So we bought a house. It’s a bit old (103 years currently).
We spent the last two days pulling the siding off and stripping it to the original studs.
Which are in surprisingly good shape.
However.
A few places have had some extended run ins with water.
To fix these by removing the problems, replacing the studs, and rebuilding the sections affected for all areas is impractical.
In one area it’s relatively easy (and actually already done), but in another it’s basically impossible.
So what is sufficient?
The focus on this correction must be on preventing anymore encounters with water.
The concrete porch–impractical to remove–runs toward the house bringing water to the wall and into the equation.
How to stop the water running downhill?
Cut a channel, arresting the eater’s flow toward the house? Might invite breaking and cracking in the concrete over years.
Best to build a porch and not allow water onto the concrete in the first place.
So it’s not a perfect solution. But it’s sufficient for the next 40 years (and if the house continues to be useable for that long, we’ll be quite happy).
I’m glad in life and in spiritual progression “good enough” isn’t something that God settles for in His children.
The atonement of Christ was not to make us good enough. It is to perfect us. To take out the negatively affected areas, and rebuild it perfectly.
I’ve written previously about how difficult and painful and time consuming this process is.
Perfection is attainable. In spiritual things, it is the only desirable outcome. In temporal things, it may not be possible, but you can create a useful solution.