I arrived on the 20th floor for my appointment two minutes early. While being precisely on time, or a minute early is within my comfort zone, I am not a fan of arriving and inconveniencing the host. I saw two options; ride the elevator down and come back up or take a walk. I chose the latter.
At the end of a hallway in a building filled with small corporate offices was a painting. As I approached, it caught my eye for a very unusual reason. No matter what stance I took, the painting was not centred on the table below it. Given this hallway was the result of an architect’s design, a decorator had reviewed and executed the plan, and a stakeholder accepted the result, I was struck by the presentation. I cannot remember ever seeing a painting hung this way.
As I stood reflecting, I kept changing my stance and my view. From every stance, the picture was aligned to the left of the table. Even as I stood quietly wondering about how this result could have happened or allowed to remain, several lesson observations emerged.
Others see what I do not. Whoever designed this setting had an experience and emotion in mind. I can witness the impact it left within me as I went with the flow. This does not need to end with a painting in a hallway few know exists. “David confirms this way of looking at it, saying that the one who trusts God to do the putting-everything-right without insisting on having a say in it is one fortunate man:” (Romans 4.6)
Being open to others can lead to something new. I saw and experienced something in the dance, setting, and overall presentation that took me to a place of possibilities. It is hard to pin down one element, frankly, there were many within the painting that were accentuated by the placement and setting. What could have been left as mundane and boring was taken by me as creative inspiration.
Yesterday’s discovery does not need to end. I have today.
