He said, “This bowl was made from Australian Ash that was blown down in Hurricane Ike.  Most of us would call it trash wood, but I cut a few pieces, waited a few years and turned it for you. I thought it an apt metaphor for what you do:  you take in children that others discard and find the beauty hidden underneath.”

This is what I do.  Before I watch a child discover algebra, or develop an understanding of electricity, or build a catapult, or program a computer, write a blog post, help them with homework, or just teach, I find the beauty in a child.  There’s two types of people out there, I guess.  Those that look at a piece of wood, a life, a child or a moment and only notice flaws.  And some can look past the flaws, find beauty and carve back the layers for everyone else until only the beauty remains.

That’s why I do this:  I search for the beauty for those of us who have yet to see it in themselves.  

Because once, not so long ago,  I was that kid.  And every moment I nearly lost myself in the darkness, someone helped carve me into man.

Make it safe & keep the rubber side down this week.  Thank you for visiting my practice zone and project showcase.  If you wish to lend your support for this site, please like WoodshopCowboy on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.  If you are interested in making and education, why not check out Work Notes, a curated set of articles from the web, published every week?