the art of blowing leaves

 

So, I borrowed a leaf blower today from a dear friend.  It's one of the big backpack blowers that he used in his landscaping business.  And I set out to blow the leaves off my yard.  No problem, right?  Wrong!  As with so many other things, I thought it was going to be much easier than it turned out being.  Not so much because we have a big yard, but  my because we have a bunch of trees.  At the end of the day, I had a pile of leaves about 20 feet long and at least 5 1/2 feet high.  Little boy heaven, right?

Anyway, as the day wore on, I learned some things I wanted to pass along:

1. I can do in 2 1/2 hours the work that one ordinary man can do in 1.  Which wasn't new news to me, just a confirmation of something I've been aware of for some time now.  I guess it does, however, make me extraordinary:)

2.  You need a really good pair of earplugs to run a heavy duty leaf blower for 2-3 hours.  I'll give mine a C-.  What?  Did you say something?

3.  And this is the big one.  There is an art to EVERYTHING!  There is an art to blowing leaves, just like there is an art to cutting hair, or building a house, or doing accounting.  There is an art to waiting on tables or running a company or selling real estate.  There is an art to taking a photograph or writing a song or giving a sermon.  There is an art to caring for a patient or cleaning a house or raising a family.  In fact, everyone who wants to do a really good job at what they do is an artist.  

I'm sitting at my dining room table most Friday mornings when the guys come by to collect our trash.  I like to watch them, because they do a really good job.  In fact, you can tell that they care about what they're doing.  These guys are artists.  I am also usually sitting at my dining room table when the lady who delivers our mail comes by.  She's awesome.  Always bright and cheerful; ready with a smile and a friendly wave.  She's an artist as well.  She cares about what she does and is really good at it.

All you've got to do in order spot an artist is to try your hand at what they do sometime, then you will be convinced.  I have an appreciation now for folks that know the art of blowing leaves, and I don't think I will take that for granted again.  But the biggest thing I learned today was that I need to begin to see and appreciate the artist in everyone.  Join me!