Turning jobs into works of art

By Ellen Shuck

Janie buzzed around the house, dusting hastily. As she worked, she chattered incessantly, telling me about her week and her plans with her children.

I hire someone to clean our house sporadically, and Janie's a jewel. By the time she leaves, I'm tempted to quit what I'm doing and join her in the work of cleaning houses.

Janie has lots of tips about her duties -- dusting, removing spots and the best mop to use.

I envy her in her appraisal of cleaning. It's definitely not my forte -- but Janie turns it into an art form. She moves quickly and deliberately.

I admire her more than if she were a VIP in the world's eyes.

If you could look at everything you do as an exciting adventure, wouldn't life be a paradise?

Janie is such an inspiration. Her knowledge is earned. She likes to make fun out of what she must do and assumes a positive attitude.

Another person I admire in his attention to detail is my husband, Don. He was a supply warrant officer in the National Guard.

I seldom paid attention to exactly what he did and the amount of expertise the job required, but somehow, he always enjoyed it.

He brings the same meticulousness to all the other jobs he approaches. Believe it or not, he enjoys housework.

It used to irritate me because it seemed to take him so long to fold clothes, wash dishes or anything I interpreted as drudgery; however, he performs almost everything as if he's on a mission.

The folds in clothes have to be even and smooth. When he hangs a picture, out comes the measuring tape.

I saw no point in being so picky, at least until recently.

I judge how a picture hangs by sight. It's quicker, too, since it's just a job that has to be done.

I have grown to revere the care he takes in almost everything he does. Because he takes delight in seeing all his projects done well, Don has inspired me to open my eyes and enjoy doing everything I tackle.

It is your attitude toward your duties that makes all the difference.

I now take pride in every little thing I do and consider it a joy and opportunity to create and turn anything into art.

I can do this by taking pains with detail and looking upon each work as being for God.

He failed to categorize what you do. It doesn't matter.

Rather, St. Paul writes, "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, and not unto men" (Colossians 3:23-24).

A friend, Jim, had problems deciding what he wanted to do with his life -- what vocation would fit him best. Consequently, he tried many fields and acquired training in them.

After dropping out of college and learning to become a dance teacher, he searched still more. He decided to acquire schooling to be a hairdresser.

To finance school, he became a waiter at a local restaurant.

Always doing his best, he rose quickly in the business, and the compensation he received made the work profitable. Yet, regardless of how successful he became in the restaurant business, Jim was still dissatisfied.

He eventually graduated from beauty school, and now he's still waiting tables and attempting to build his cosmetology clientele.

"I'm making less at the beauty salon. but I don't like to wait tables anymore. I like doing this," he said, meaning working as a cosmetologist.

You can learn to appreciate everything you do and turn it into an art form, but attempt to enter a field you enjoy.

God has provided each with gifts, and nothing is too small or insignificant to do your best.

It's not what you do in life, but the attitude with which you perform your duties, that makes a beautiful piece of art.