"Rarely Show" seems to me to be connected to "Finding the Sun" and "Pardon". With "Pardon", there is the recognition that punishment, repentance, and atonement have their place. With "Finding the Sun", there is the feeling and awareness that growth can be a strange but natural process. "Rarely Show" is my way of saying that hard work is a part of it too.
Even though I'm a very intellectual, abstract kind of guy, I was lucky enough to spend a few years, off and on, doing construction work with a friend of mine who is an excellent builder and craftsman. I have another friend who has been busting his ass since high school in order to get what he wants for himself and his family. Growing up where we did in Pennsylvania, it would be tough to not pick up that work ethic, and our parents deserve a lot of credit for that. But just absorbing those values doesn't mean the work is already done for you!
One of the things I've learned is that it's usually easier to build things right from the beginning rather than going in later and trying to fix a clusterf@%#! So sometimes, people like us seem a little stubborn, we insist on going slow when it's fitting, we put pressure on teammates who don't want to do their share, and we take pride in what we've done right. If you're paying us to work for you, you can know you'll pay us what we're worth and get what you pay for.
If you get the holes dug right and the foundation laid right, the rest is easier and more fun. Framing is always a nice change after digging and concrete work. The same works for houses and relationships. If you're going to stay there, might as well build it right. If you build it crooked, it will eventually show.
It's said you get in
on the groundfloor.
I work on foundations,
rarely show
aboveground.
Roots stay hidden,
dig?
Growth like this
goes slow.
Something to be said
for getting hands dirty,
calloused,
strong.
Shovels, picks, and barrows
don't get the job
done.
We get it started,
laid straight,
solid.
Afterwards,
you just
connect the dots.
Copyright 2007 Todd Mertz