Ah, spring…it’s that wonderful time of optimism and renewal. A time for cleaning up the yard, planting things and adding a coat of point to those things that have faded over the years.
And, it’s not something just for adults and older types. At least that’s the impression given by a tree house along a country road. The thing is usually hidden from view during the active summer months by all of the foliage of the trees surrounding it. It’s only in winter that its multi-dimensional architecture and various structural components are visible. You know, the sort of things that boys will find around the yard and haul off to these types of projects – old plywood, a few two-by-fours of varying lengths, and some scrap metal and a plastic tarp for a roof.
They may have noticed over the winter that their building project clashed a little with real houses in the neighbourhood. Or, perhaps a sister may have been made a member of the group for some reason or other.
How else would you explain the paint that has been added to the tree house exterior during the recent weeks of spring? Yup, some interesting tones of white and blue, probably salvaged from the back of dad’s workshop, now decorate a couple of its exterior walls. And, who knows, maybe an old carpet has been added to the inside…
There’s only one reference to painting in the whole Bible. And in that case the prophet says that it may be a sign of vanity. Apparently King Jehoiakim had paneled his palace with cedar and painted it with vermillion. (Jeremiah 22:14)
It says nothing about painting a tree house, whether it be blue, white or any other colour. The kids will have to deal with local building codes and with any parental penalties that may be imposed for the missing paint.