They were built over seventy years ago, the brick and cement front steps that brought people from the walkway into the house since the place was built. But the mortar had eroded, bricks had loosened, and the steps had separated from the landing. So two masons showed up to take them away and get ready to build a new set of stairs.

It’s not an instant process. Taking them down, even in their sorry state, took most of a Wednesday morning. Laying a new cement pad took the afternoon. Building the new steps will take a couple more days.

It’s important work, connecting the outside world to the place I call home. It takes time and no small amount of skill – and the help of others when it’s beyond my own skill set. The same could be said of any work that keeps up this home. There’s no end to this process – something is always in need of renewal, and what is good needs to be maintained. It’s always a work in progress. But isn’t that life in a nutshell?

Let’s spend some time exploring this work in progress…