Everything is Connected

In the middle of all the ruckus in our home this past week, I discovered a moment of great inspiration. Then again, that's where great inspiration is born.

We are getting new carpeting for our upstairs. That in itself has turned my world upside down. But the bigger picture here is how one thing always leads to another.

When we decided to get new carpeting, we couldn't just get new carpeting.

"We have to paint the ceilings," my wife told me.

"Won't the new carpeting like looking at our old ceilings?" I asked.

"Not the point," she replied.  "I don't want to be painting the ceilings after we put the carpeting in."

"Okay with me.  Put the new carpeting in and we won't paint the ceilings," I said.

It wasn't the right answer.

She walked away from my logic as she shook her head in disbelief.

"Okay, we'll paint the ceilings," I conceded.

"Well, we will need to paint the trim and the walls, too," she said as she stood in the doorway.

"I know, the carpeting, right?" I said.

"Yes, but the trim will look old next to the new ceiling."

I sighed.

"Okay, I'll paint the trim, too."

"Well, you'll need to sand them first."

"Because of the carpeting?"

"No, it's the right thing to do."

"The right thing to do was leave the old carpeting," I mumbled.

"Oh, by the way.  We also should paint the walls," she added.  And without hesitating so as to avoid unnecessary comments from me, she continued.  "The walls in the back room have cracks that need to be repaired."

Everything is connected.

Like fixing the cracks in the plaster.

I really wasn't sure if I remembered how to do it.  Since I was already up to my neck in these projects I thought I better ask someone.

Standing in the aisle of the local hardware store I looked around to find a clerk.

Now, if I were roaming around the store with nothing in mind, there would be five clerks asking, "May I help you find something?"

But never when I really need one.

I grabbed what looked like the item I needed and began reading the label.  Is it me getting older or do they make the print so small any more you need a telescope to see it?

"Do you know what you are doing?" I heard a man ask me.

Looking up I expected to see a clerk standing there.  It was an elderly man.

"Oh, a man of great wisdom!" I said.  "How'd you know I needed help?"

"The can's upside down," he said.

"That's okay, I couldn't read it anyway," I said laughing.

I proceeded to explain my challenge.

"Make the cracks bigger," He said.

"Why?  I'm trying to cover them up," I said.

Then was my moment of inspiration.

"In order to fix a small problem you need to see it bigger," he said.

I had a look of confusion.

"That small crack most likely is a part of a bigger problem.  By exposing the crack the filler will smooth it over more evenly.  By making it a little wider the filler can get into the crack, you can sand it and paint it and never see it again.  People who putty over a tiny crack will only get to see it again," he said.

Just like life.  Sometimes little problems are the beginning of bigger ones.  Sometimes taking a broader look at it will help to resolve the problem once and for all so that it never returns.

Handling the small crack in the foundation of your well being will help to prevent that foundation from crumbling.

Sometimes, "In order to fix a small problem you need to see it bigger."

Everything is connected.

Like you and me!

~ Bob Perks ~
2believe@comcast.net

[ by: Bob Perks Copyright © 2005 (2believe@comcast.net) -- {used with permission} ]