Cutting Corners

The kids were gone all last week so I took it upon myself to repaint their rooms. What a great idea! I have done my fair share of painting so I know that I always start off very excited about the prospect and there is nothing quite like seeing that first brush of colour on the wall.

However, I also know that I usually tire of the project around midnight when I am covered in paint and longing for my pillow. So there I was at about 1 AM in Freckles' closet trimming the ceiling, thinking to myself, "No one is ever going to look up in here..." The temptation was strong to just skip it and get to bed.

I was however reminded of Frederic Auguste Bartholdi (must have been the paint fumes). Who is he, you ask? He is the sculptor of the Statue of Liberty. I heard a fascinating story about the painstaking detail he took on the statue, including her hair. Here's the thing: the Statue of Liberty was erected in 1884. Airplane flight was not something that had been conceived of. So no one would ever see the top of the head. And yet, he took great pride in every facet of that statue, regardless of who would see it, or not see it for that matter.

So, yes, I realize the inside of a closet doesn't quite compare to an historic monument but the principle is the same. How do we apply ourselves when no one is watching? The definition of integrity is what we do when no one is watching. Oh, the cobwebs we sweep under the bed!

I will try my best to pay attention to the details because it is in the small things that the difference between average and greatness can be found.