rivercrow

We’ve been working on the house this weekend. Specifically, we had all the interior doors replaced with prehung, panelled doors. We also got new brass lever door handles.

We both helped the contractor with the work. I did the doorknobs, Sdalek helped rip out & replace the doors. The contractor left then, and we’ve been painting.

The house looks new. Amazing how such a simple change can make such a large difference.

While we were painting, I was reminded of one of my projects when I was the graphic artist for a library. Each month I had to come up with a design for a 30-foot long bulletin board to move books. I had a reference listing things like “May is Such and Such Month.” Some of these were rather odd. National Podiatry Month, for instance.

I loved the idea of National Podiatry Month. We forget about feet. And footprints are so human, so tender. The image of a white background covered with multicolored footprints flashed before me. Many sizes of feet, so I needed to enlist the willing amongst the library staff to bare their feet, step in tempera paint, and walk the length of the paper.

After they left their marks, I needed to wash their feet. I decided it was easier to offer to wash their feet for them, so I arranged chairs on either end, pans of paint, pans of soapy and clean water, and towels.

If you’ve never washed the feet of a stranger or co-worker for free, it’s an interesting experience. I remember they were taken aback. Nervous laughter. For me, it was just part of the deal…but I did have to ask about their reactions.

It had to do with humility. Because I was not afraid to do what needed to be done to carry out the vision I had, because I was not disturbed by participating in the efforts….

There’s more to the emotion and symbolism. I’ll leave you to consider the impact.

Even now, I consider the importance of humility in making my visions real. A true vision is bigger than I am and deserves my commitment and respect. My relationship to those who are swept along with my efforts deserve my gratitude for their involvement.

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