Strohschein: Under construction

Details

Published on Thursday, May 29, 2014

By: Neil Strohschein

As I write these words, workers from Nelson River Construction are working on the multi-million dollar renewal of Highway 5 from Eden north through Riding Mountain to the junction with Highway 261.

This is Phase 2 of a major rebuild of that highway. Phase 1, from Highway 261 to Highway 19 was completed two years ago; and area residents can’t wait for this current phase to be completed. It is long overdue.

The need for this upgrade became very evident after the 261 to Highway 19 section was completed. That north section was probably one of the worst pieces of highway in this area — not as bad as St. James Boulevard in Winnipeg, but close. Its completion revealed just how bad the section currently under construction really was.

Upgrading this portion of Highway 5 will be done in several stages. Turn lanes and passing lanes are being built at the major intersections along the route. Shoulders will be widened and repaired. Existing asphalt will be stripped and recycled. Several layers of new pavement will be applied. The project will likely take all summer to complete because these projects are often time consuming and costly.

There is one thing about which the crew working on Highway 5 can be absolutely certain. They will never be out of work. Their diligence in fixing one piece of bad road will reveal how badly in need of repair other Manitoba highways really are. There will always be more projects to complete.

That’s how it is in road construction. That’s also how it is in life.

The story is told of a wealthy entrepreneur who, on the occasion of his retirement was being interviewed by a young reporter.

“Sir,” the reporter began, “How did you become so successful?”

“That’s easy,” the man replied. “I used good judgment.”

“And how did you develop good judgment?” the reporter continued.

“By making mistakes,” the man said.

“And why did you make mistakes?” added the reporter.

“Because of poor judgment.”

Every one of us can identify with that man. We have all made monumental blunders; thanks in part to poor judgment. We have had to endure some consequences that have proven to be painful for us and for those close to us. Making apologies, making amends and moving on have not been easy.

But most of us have learned from our mistakes—and when next confronted with similar situations, we have used better judgment and avoided the mistakes that caused us so much pain earlier in life. Today, we can look back on those experiences and see just how much they helped to make us better men and women, better marriage partners, better parents, better employees, better neighbors and better friends.

You can build a dog house in a day, a garage in two to three weeks, an average sized home in four months. It takes 18 to 20 years for a human infant to reach full maturity. But it takes a lifetime for that human to develop the maturity of character, stability of emotions, soundness of judgment and depth of faith that will enable him or her to face each of life’s challenges with courage, dignity, integrity and optimism.

In one sense, just like the highways in Manitoba, you and I will always be under construction—always learning, always growing, always becoming more mature. That process will not stop until the day we die.
So as you go about your activities this week, please be patient with the people you meet. God isn’t finished with any of us yet. We’re still under construction.