Utterly fascinating.
A Truth Window.
“A truth window (or truth wall) is an opening in a wall surface, created to reveal the layers or components within the wall.”
- Taken from http://goo.gl/R6stCQ
“In a straw bale house, a truth window is often used to show the walls are actually made from straw bales.”
“A small section of a wall is left unplastered on the interior, and a frame is used to create a window which shows only straw, which makes up the inside of the wall.”
(Text taken from Wikipedia).
So here is a straw bale house mid-construction…
After all the walls are sealed up with plaster and other materials, one little hole remains– a window into reality, a truth window.
From the book, Building a Straw Bale House:
“A tradition in recent straw bale buildings is to build a “truth window” at a special place in the building’s interior, since one your straw bale project is complete, it will be difficult to tell that the walls are actually composed of straw bales. Visitors see an attractive, thick-walled building, but they will most likely assume that you built it out of masonry or adobe as only stucco will be visible… [A truth] window represents yet another way of personalizing your building, and telling the secret of its warmth, coziness, and structural composition. A truth window says: “This house is built of straw.””
People could come into my strawbale home, unaware of its construction materials. All would seem to be normal, but for one little window on a lone wall.
“What’s that?” they might ask.
“It’s a truth window,” I might reply.
“A truth window? What’s that?”
“Well, you see,” I could say as guide them closer, “there is a small window frame surrounding this hole in the wall– and the hole reveals the straw within.”
“What? No way, the walls aren’t filled with straw! You’re pulling my leg!”
I could put both arms up in the air, to show that I am, in fact, not pulling any legs, and simply gesture to the window: “But there’s the window– and there’s the straw.”
“No! You just cut a hole in the wall and filled it with straw just to be different and weird! You would totally do something like that!”
“Well, I supposed I might… but the truth is…”
“Sure, whatever!” And they would walk away, unable to comprehend that the walls are made of straw, barely more than a pig’s construction project…
From here I could go in four directions, pontificating and explicating numerous Biblle verses to make myself sound wise and interesting. Instead, I will simply share four Scripture passages– and let you make the connections yourself. What do you think? What does this have to do with the Christian life?
1 Corinthians 3:9b-15 (Good News Translation)
You are also God’s building. Using the gift that God gave me, I did the work of an expert builder and laid the foundation, and someone else is building on it. But each one must be careful how he builds. For God has already placed Jesus Christ as the one and only foundation, and no other foundation can be laid. Some will use gold or silver or precious stones in building on the foundation; others will use wood or grass or straw. And the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality. If what was built on the foundation survives the fire, the builder will receive a reward. But if anyone’s work is burnt up, then he will lose it; but he himself will be saved, as if he had escaped through the fire.
Colossians 3:1-4 (New Living Translation)
Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits in the place of honor at God’s right hand. Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. For you died to this life, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. And when Christ, who is your life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.
2 Peter 3:10-13 (New American Standard Bible)
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up. Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be destroyed by burning, and the elements will melt with intense heat! But according to His promise we are looking for new heavens and a new earth, in which righteousness dwells.
John 8:31-32 (Contemporary English Version)
Jesus told the people who had faith in him, “If you keep on obeying what I have said, you truly are my disciples. You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
See the truth.
Know the truth.
Be free.