The Floor

The face registered concern with just a touch of irritation, but in contrast the words that came out were pleasant, and unless one were perceptive or sensitive, one might have missed the tense body language, the slightest contention in the tone of voice, and the hint of agitation as the custodian reminded me she had just waxed the floor. Yet not the smallest tinge of disrespect or rudeness accompanied her gentle and pleasant reminder as she pointed out the glossy, clean shine on the floor. Like a child, showing a report card colorfully displaying many S+'s, or a mechanic who just fixed your car, or a stock broker who made you lots of money, or a doctor who discovered the problem, her demeanor was one of the personal pride, joy, and satisfaction that comes when a job is well-done.

There are many ways to approach a project or responsibility and all of us are guilty of performing the task minimally or of meeting that expectation objectively or even somewhat distantly with a lack of emotional commitment to the cause. In some ways this is a normal part of living. Most tasks are simply mundane requirements for everyday life--such as brushing your teeth, getting dressed (although my wife often turns this into a big project!), going to work, etc. Meals, however, do often require a greater commitment and preparation for excellence as exemplified by the training and skill needed for culinary superiority. It is easy to see how a person can emphasize cooking as a trade, a profession, and even a passion; but less easy to lift up or acknowledge value in quality brushing of teeth or getting dressed or getting in your car to go to work. So we tend to place a kind of arbitrary human judgment on tasks that appear to be basic as opposed to tasks that require training and skill. Perhaps this is the reason society tends to elevate certain professions over others, and certainly, years of training for a particular responsibility should be respected.

Yet in essence, it doesn't really matter what the task is or whether we are emotionally involved in the completion of the project, we still should dedicate ourselves to persevere and accomplish all tasks with both aplomb and distinction. Such is the case with our custodian who day in and day out, strives to achieve neatness, cleanliness, and a degree of aesthetic artistry within the parameters of her job description. In short, she wants our building to be clean and look good. With those goals at the top of her list, she relentlessly and tirelessly comes to work early and dedicates herself to the task at hand. She is loved and appreciated and maybe a little feared as she sweetly but firmly applies excellence to our building. She is valued beyond measure and is an important part of our lives. Thank you, Mary!