let there be light!

well, the last couple of days have been nuts!

our oldest daughter and her husband just closed on their first domestic abode. after being apartment dwellers for the last couple of years, they took the plunge and bought a beautiful, completely remodeled townhouse.

as part of our housewarming gift to them, we offered to paint the master bedroom. the closing took way longer than anyone expected and legally allowed - (my opinion only) - so we didn't even get started painting until that evening with the furniture set to arrive the next morning. dave and i and lacey and micah all took part in the painting. becky even jumped in and grabbed a brush and a roller. i think she was the only member of our family not roped into one of mom's painting projects before now.

dave and i finished up at 1:00 am with what looked like some minor touch-up work to be done. but what looked better than fine in light bulb light, well, it did not look so fine in actual daylight. another coat was needed in many areas and there were a few errant paint drops on the floor. so becky and i spent part of a long lunch and then dave and i spent some time after dinner repainting and touching up. oh, and cleaning up.

side road - one of the best products known to mankind. . . Goof Off - "Everybody goofs up sometimes – which is why every home, garage and workshop needs Goof Off."

this got me thinking about artificial lighting vs daylight and how daylight is much more truthful about the condition of paint on the walls, dust on the end table, smudges on the window. . .
how the opinions of my family/friends on my character or complete strangers i have stopped to help are a sort of artificial light in my life. it's so easy to feel good about yourself and your life when you only look around with the help of a lamp or flashlight. the true test is God's daylight on my life. . . and let me tell you, there are a lot of smudges, dustballs, and 2nd coats needed. . .

i wonder what the spiritual equivalent of Goof Off is. . .