…and today we paint

In the midst of my recent health scare God sent me a reminder. The best way to release the fear, the focus on the problem at hand, is to lose yourself in service to another.

While I was still waiting for my tests, one of my pastors reached out, having heard I knew a thing or two about painting, I was invited to co-lead an organized paint party.

The Palmetto Women’s Center, which is a local, faith-based organization that helps women and their partners navigate unplanned pregnancy, has landed a residential home that was in need of paint before they open their doors to women in need of their services.

The center put out a call to our church, which has offered assistance in the past, and this time the call was to help paint the interior of the home. A few people at church know my history.

My dad was a professional painter for the majority of his life, eventually owning his own paint business. He started taking me on side jobs when I was young. He used to tease (sort of) that we were going to do a half-day-Saturday. That meant from 6a – 6p. Literally half the day. And no, he did not pay much attention to child labor laws. And in so many ways I am thankful.

Not only did I learn to paint, but I learned to respect my father and the manual labor he did to contribute to our family financially. He was gone long hours, but as an adult, and a parent myself, I understand better now the sacrifices he made on our behalf. And the sacrifices of my mother holding down the fort while he was out of the home working.

Painting is my zen place. It’s one of the few activities that actually quiets my zesty brain. My favorite part — cutting in. Most people would rather roll. Large, broad strokes and quick gratification for the work at hand. For me, let me cut in. Let me mire away my time on the details around trim. I don’t use tape, so it requires a very steady hand and a lot of calm focus. My ADD brain is instantly quieted by the activity.

We currently have 27 people signed up to paint. Though of course they likely won’t all show. I will be thrilled if we have 18-20 people.

The house is over 3,000 square feet, five beds, 3 1/2 baths. We are scheduled from 9a-3p today. Do I think we’ll get it all done? I’m skeptical, but I know through God, all things are possible. I pray we come together, put of heads down in prayer, and when we rise up we are ready to go to work and paint the day away.

I am thankful for the opportunity to serve, to use my talents on behalf of others, and in doing so, I honor my dad, who I miss very much. This year marks 30 years since his passing. Painting helps me feel close to him in spirit. I’m excited to get some dad time today.