You apply the first coat of paint on the wall. You step back and wonder
why you see no color. Someone tells you, “ You have only applied the
first coat. Let it dry then apply the second coat and then you will see
the color.”
Indeed, the color of the
paint shows up after the second coat and even shows up brighter with the third.
Such is the case with painting. The first coat serves as a primer to
prepare the surface to receive the finishing paint application. In fact
the paint industry has a special painting product called the primer engineered
to bind with the material underneath while preparing the surface to adhere
better with the finishing paint. It serves as filler and water-proofing
agent. In some cases it is used to seal the wall and aid in preventing
mold. The primer can be tinted to match as closely as possible to the
finishing paint to reduce the number of layers of finishing paint necessary to
achieve the desired painted surface.
How does this story relate to
life? It takes multiple experiences to truly understand a lesson.
The first time we watch a math lesson
demonstrated we watch it like a movie, a succession of picture frames passing
before our eyes from beginning to end. After the demonstration, we can at least
say the name of the lesson, what it is meant to teach and where it is located
on the shelf. That’s the first coat of paint.
We approach the instructor confessing
that we did not get the lesson. The instructor gives a small group lesson
along with two or three others. With a smaller group, we cannot hide and
we participate with the handling of the materials as directed by the
instructor. With our second coat of paint, we now know the steps involved
although we cannot remember the sequence.
With our small group we recall the steps
and write them down in our notebook. That’s the third coat of paint.
We then take turns practicing while the
small group watches. We learn by doing and we learn by watching. That’s the
fourth coat.
Armed with a boost of self-confidence,
we teach the lesson to a classmate or to the elementary students we teach.
We learn more when we teach. That’s the fifth coat.
We practice six more times for mastery
and then ask the instructor to check us up. That’s the sixth coat.
We look for
extensions and applications in daily life, browse through math books for
exercises and review technological tools available through the internet. That’s
the seventh coat of paint. Learning with several layers of reinforcements and
engagements is strong and will never be forgotten.
Repeated exposure before buying seems to
be the rule, this is the principle behind the steady stream of advertisements
on TV, radio and magazines.
Adopting a point of view foreign to us is not instantaneous. Modeling, living the
principles we are advocating goes a long way towards forwarding our argument
than mere words. Sometimes a novel, a movie, a story, a news item clicks
a point within us that has been heard but not listened to. This
works because when we distance ourselves from some idea we could not
agree, we see it in a different perspective. During our unguarded moment, we do
not focus on ourselves and our opposition, rather, we allow ourselves to be
open and listen with our heart.
The next time we are confronted with
some difficulties in life, we can relax and say, “That’s my first coat of
paint. Let me go through it and when the next one comes, I will be a
little prepared because that will be my second coat of paint.” We keep
repeating to ourselves the mantra that ‘we only have difficulties in things
that we still have not learned how to deal with.’
We apply the primer of preparedness for
understanding only comes to a prepared mind.
We apply the first coat of
humility with the plea to the teacher, “Teach me, I am a child and I know that
I know not.” One cannot teach a person who claims he/she already knows.
We apply the second coat of industry for God helps those who
help themselves.
We apply the third coat of
selflessness in sharing the little that we know for we live not for ourselves
alone but for our fellow human beings.
We apply the fourth coat of
patience for the wheel of God grinds slow but sure. In due time and in
due season, our toil will bring fruits.
We apply the fifth coat of faith knowing that what we sow we
reap. We study, we learn. We help, others will help us. We give, we
receive God’s bounty.
We apply the sixth coat of a sense of
purpose and ask ourselves “For what purpose?” Our purpose leads to a sense of
determination and determination leads to right action in achieving our goal.
We apply the seventh coat of oneness. We
are all one. We are one with the earth and one with all creation. We brighten
the corner where we are and make the world a little brighter.
So fellow travelers, put on your cap and
overalls. Grab a bucket of paint and brush. There is a lot of
painting to do. Happy painting.
