Case for Flare I used to consider myself utilitarian, then I met Tommy, director of the Hope for Children Orphanage in Jacmel Haiti. I want to say a few awesome things about this place, and Tommys infectious flare. I guess its called a shout out, which is kind of the opposite of a shoot out. Tommys flare for style can be seen in every corner of this orphan campus. From the colorful dorms, kitchen, and chapel in the kids area to the low walls without razor wire and the ornate see-through gates. Heres an example, all throughout the house, above the doorways, are these punched out metal transoms. Every one of them are unique and its a local art. A lot of times it doesnt cost that much more to do something awesome. The transoms only cost $1,200. Now you might say, couldnt that money have been spent on shoes for the kids? That argument, that strictly utilitarian argument, can be a bit compelling. Obviously there is a line somewhere. Actually, no, theres no line, that is in fact, obvious, between awesome and that-will-do. A lot of times awesome doesnt cost any more than boring. Take for another instance, theres a wall at Practice CrossFit that is painted in black and white by Ryan Vest. Theres not just a line half way up the wall with black on the bottom and white on the top. The wall is white and there are images of awesome people painted there with encouraging quotes. You might argue that cost more. But not really. Ryan works for PCF full time, so if he spends that time being awesome it doesnt cost any more than if he spent his time being boring. So back to Tommy. Hes building this hydroponic system and installing a state of the art solar electric system on the building to power the campus. He wouldnt have had to paint the mechanical rooms bright white and paint Outback Power, and Trojan on the walls. Usually Mechanical rooms are dark and dingy. These a bright and energizing. But wait, thats not all, they always told me as a kid that it takes less energy to smile than to frown. Maybe it takes less energy to flare than to frug. (froog not the vigorous dance to pop music but the act of bending over backwards to be frugal) Yeshua said that if salt looses its flavor - should we say flare? Then the salt is less than worthless. Yeshua said that he and his disciples are the light of the world. Light isnt strictly utilitarian. Light is flare! Insolation is the total amount of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area during a given time. I love that word because by only one letter it is the opposite of insulation. That last fact, like this one, is strictly utilitarian. It teaches something, then falls flat on its face out of our memories. Yahweh has lots of flare. Just try looking around outside without banging into it! Stay flareful, my friends!
Posted on: Thu, 06 Nov 2014 11:15:32 +0000
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