Thursday, September 23, 2010

Invention

"What's that? Could it be used for...?" I'm looking at some kind of grey metal support, propped against the mirror in my office. It might be the end of an IKEA shelving system. 

We picked up several of the lightweight metal pieces for $1 each. They looked like inventions waiting to be discovered. So far, three supports lie flat between the swim spa and the garage wall, holding up the pool cover when I swim. Um, the cover... also nontraditional. It's actually a huge, heavy-duty sheet of black plastic "from somewhere." Works perfectly.

Anyhow, two metal sides of this thing have eight thin, 12" cross-braces soldered across the width, which might be perfect for hanging wet monoprints to dry. Let me grab some clothespins to see if they'll clamp paper on the cross-pieces. 

Going to an art store for made-to-fit drying racks might be quicker, if less resourceful. But why get in the car, drive to Daniel Smith, and get distracted by all their other art supplies? I already have potential print racks. Right beside me in my office! Besides, while I like inventing, I hate shopping. "Hmmm." My eyes narrow for a second look.

I've always been curious about the world. "Why?" and "How" are concepts invented for people like our family. Rethinking and reusing common items seems normal for both my husband's family and mine. 

Most people are comfortable using specific tools for projects. However, challenges and disasters shake us into the realization that stuff is just stuff.  When the world turns upside down, everything within reach gets re-purposed and applied.


Only love remains. Only relationships, survival, and serving others matter. What's within arm's reach that improves your serve?

Read more:
*Praise the LORD. How good it is to sing praises to our God, how pleasant and fitting to praise him! The LORD builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the exiles of Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds. He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name. Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. Psalm 147:1-5 NIV

*Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part, but when perfection comes, the imperfect disappears. When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me.

Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known. from 1 Corinthians 13

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