There’s an old saying: “what was old becomes new again.” There is also a saying that has become quite popular in this day and age of antiquing and flea markets: “one man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”
While both of those statements are true, I resolved a few years ago not to take on another person’s castaways — even if it is good junk. It just collects in the corners of the garage and the shed and eventually has to be gone through and mostly thrown away anyway. But then, I had an opportunity to save a barn from certain demise. It is a barn that has been sitting unused for decades. And although it goes against my resolve to take on another man’s junk, I made an exception in this case.
It all started a few years ago when the neighbor’s farm was purchased after the original owners passed away. The new owner was mainly interested in the land, not the buildings. But there was a very nice barn sitting on the corner of this property. From what I understand, the barn was the pride and joy of the dad who had recently passed away. He made sure it was kept in tip-top shape down through the years even though there hasn’t been a cow in there in years. Over time, several storms have passed through this area taking down neighboring barns. In fact, in the last few decades, if my calculations are correct, which I’m pretty sure they are, at least eight barns have been flattened by the wind within five or six miles of this barn. But this one has stood tall and proud through it all.
Last summer, when a sign appeared along the road in front of the barn that said: “Free Barn” with a phone number attached, I immediately consulted with my wife and called the guy to let him know I was interested. He was thrilled. I wasn’t sure about this whole idea of moving a barn. I had no experience in the process whatsoever, so I went online to see if I could find a contractor. I found several. Within a few days I had accepted a bid and it was time to get the process rolling. I had to make phone calls to the county, the township and the utility companies in order to get permission and permits. I had to get a site prepared, a concrete foundation poured, and a route mapped out. I had to take some fences down and trim some trees. Everything had to come together so we can make this move.
A couple of weeks ago, the movers showed up and began the work of preparing to lift a 25 ton barn off its foundation, put wheels under it and pull it down the road to its new location less than a mile away. The barn is 34 feet wide, by 70 feet long, by 35 feet high. This is no walk in the park, but I am glad to say the barn is ready to go, all we are waiting on now is cold weather so we can pull it across a field and into place.
I’m glad the Lord doesn’t give up on us when our usefulness seems gone. Instead, He gives us a new life, a new perspective and new hope. “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new,” (2 Corinthians 5:17).
— Reflections appears regularly on the religion page. The column features a variety of local writers, coordinated through the Monroe Area Clergy Group. Kevin Cernek is senior pastor of Martintown Community Church.
