Building Stuff

by Jon Simons

Looking at life from the dark side of 40, I have come to learn some things about myself:  I don’t bounce like I used to, I will never be accused of being “fashionable” and I really like to build stuff!  Let me take that last point a bit further, not only do I like to build stuff, but I NEED to build stuff!

This past weekend while my wife was away, I set out to put the finishing touches on our ongoing landscaping plan for our home.  Armed with great enthusiasm, good advice from “friends” on the internet (a shout out to ThisOldHouse.com), and the basic skills and coordination to dig a hole, I planned to lay a cobble stone edge to my driveway.  I am proud to say that after 3,040 lbs. of concrete, 210 cobble stones (5,250 lbs.) and massive doses of Advil, I headed off to the airport on Sunday afternoon to pick up my wife admiring a fully edged driveway in my rear view mirror.

I enjoy building stuff as much for the process as the product.  I like doing the work just as much as I like getting the job done.  I like the reward of seeing the fruits of my labors and knowing that I have created something tangible and hopefully long-lasting. On about my seventh trip to Lowes last weekend, it occurred to me that I am not alone. Lots of people enjoy building stuff. (And they all happened to be standing ahead of me at the one register that was attended by a real human being.)

Now that the tools are put away and the dust has settled on my most recent project, I am sitting in my office (with a great view of my driveway) doing my “real” job!  As the Advil and portable back massager do their magic, I am reminded that we are blessed in the field of fund development to be building every day. We are building a future of hope for children and families, we are building communities filled with love, health and inclusion, and we are building the capacity of caring adults as they strive to create a better world.

Although not as easily noticed as a row of carefully placed stones, we need to keep our eyes open and appreciate the true fruits of our labors!

Last 5 posts by Jon Simons

• Who holds the key? - March 9th, 2012
• What's the point? - January 17th, 2012
• I "get" it. - July 27th, 2011
• Three Generations of Camping - May 5th, 2011
• The Best Question Ever - March 21st, 2011

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