The Importance of Color in Plastic

I have a friend from my baseball world whom I admire. Geoff is one of the good guys: loves his family, makes a conscience effort to serve others on a regular basis, solid, dependable, trustworthy. Always seemed to have a lot of time to help others at the drop of a hat. 

Due to this apparent flexible work schedule, one day I asked him what he did for a living. He replied, "I sell color for plastic." Say what? He continued, "plastic in its raw form only comes in a base (such as white.) In order for you to have say, a green hamper, color has to be added to it. That's what I do. I sell color for plastic to manufacturers who make things out of plastic."

Wow. Who'd have thought? I mean really, look around your house or work. Everything you have didn't just materialize out of thin air: someone had to make it. If it's any color other than white or beige (example in fabric, there is naturally occurring raw cotton in beige), someone had to add color to it. Orange plastic drinking glasses? Someone added color to it before it was molded.

It was just fascinating to meet someone whose work is seemingly insignificant. I mean really. Color for plastic. Not rocket science. Not neuro science. Geoff isn't discovering the next cure for cancer, or creating the technology which will get us energy independent for pennies on the dollar. How easy it would be for someone (other than Geoff!) to go about life thinking their life has little to no importance--all they do is just sell color for plastic.

And yet, how bland our lives would be without color for plastic.

A long time ago I read a book written by Becky Reeve entitled The Spirit Knows No Handicap. She was a Mormon missionary who was involved in a tragic car accident and came out of it a quadriplegic. She wrote: "Some time ago I was listening to General Conference" (the semi-annual meeting for the LDS Church held in Salt Lake City Utah). "I heard President Spencer W. Kimball make these remarks:

       'We have paused on plateaus long enough. Let us resume our journey upward and forward.....Seemingly small efforts in the life of each member could do so much to move the Church forward as never before. " (Let us move forward and upward, Spencer W. Kimball, April 1979, www.lds.org.)

Becky continued, "These words sank deep into my heart. I wondered, what could a quadriplegic such as I do? I decided then to share my story, that life can be rich and rewarding if you want it to be, because the Spirit, knows no handicap."

Color for plastic. We take it for granted, accepting the benefits of it without a second thought. Geoff could go around like Eeyore, feeling as though his life's work makes barely a ripple. Yet his work provides him with the time to serve others on a daily basis, where he impacts hundreds and thousands, and changes lives for good. Our life and I'm sure the lives of others, have been richly blessed by knowing him. We learn from his example. Some, then pick up and pass the torch of service to others, increasing the ripple effect.

Your life is no different. The small things you do, done consistently, add up to a lifetime of character. Consistently offering rides to your son's baseball team members. Volunteering. Reading to your children. Dusting the furniture. Weeding the yard. Saying hello to the stranger at the grocery store. Paying off debt one dollar at a time. Choosing to forgive. 

Your actions matter. Your decisions matter. Your life matters. Thank you for all that you do and are. You are phenomenal.