Every once in a while the artist in me notices something truly beautiful in everyday life. I had one of those moments a couple weeks ago on the bus ride to school, oddly enough. As we crossed the trolley tracks towards the four-way intersection near Spartan Pharmacy, I noticed something in the grass off to the side of the road. Lying in the weeds was one of those road construction signs with the orange reflective paint and the light on top. I can't even remember when it would have been used, but obviously someone forgot it there. Left it lying in the grass for God knows how long. But what caught my eye was the blinking light. Tossed aside, forgotten and left behind, the sign continued to blink its little light. On and off, on and off. I just stared while we sat at the intersection.
Obviously it has no choice in the matter. There's no way that it could possibly realize it had been forgotten and start pouting. It's a little plastic sign. I know this. But it was a brilliant example of perseverance, and I thought it was absolutely beautiful in its simplicity. But has anyone else noticed this little sign? Probably. But how many of them saw the beauty in it? How many of them got the message? How many of them stopped to wonder how long it had been there, and whether or not the little light would burn out or if someone would finally come pick it up? There's no way to know for sure, but I'm sure it's a depressingly-low number.
The question I want you to ask yourself, though, is one I'm still struggling with myself. Which way would you rather see it end? Where the sign, forgotten and left behind, does its job until it finally burns itself out? Or where the workers who left it finally come back and turn it off and take it with them? Don't decide right away. Think about it. Think about what each scenario implies in terms of the meaning behind the story, and what it implies in terms of how the world operates. Sleep on it, if you have to. If you feel up to it and care enough, post your answer as a comment. Explain why you decided on your answer, because I'd love to hear some other opinions on this. As for me, I think I'd want to see it burn out. I'd want to see it take the moral high ground despite the fact that no one is watching or caring. Those of you who know me can probably figure out why, or at least come to the same conclusion that I did as to why I'd prefer that. But now it's your turn. So think about it. Really think about it. And make sure you understand what that says about you, and what that says about how you view life.
And for the record, someone did finally come for it. Last I saw it, it was sitting on top of some other construction equipment, but the light had been turned off. Just in case you care.
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Currently listening to:
"Paint the Seconds" by Chevelle
Sunday, October 5, 2008
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