Occasionally, Grace, the black Lab, and I take a walk down a particular road in our neighborhood.  As we stroll by the scene you see in the picture above, I always marvel at the three legged ladder present there.  It usually is leaning against the large tree trunk seen in the background.  Today, I rearranged it into “working” position so I could show it to you.

What strikes me about this ladder is two fold.  First, it does not fit my “definition” of what it actually is.  From my perspective, it looks more like an easel or a tripod than it does a ladder.  Additionally, it should have a fourth leg and braces for added safety.  One thing is for sure, if I needed a ladder, I would not likely grab this one and head to the job site!

Even so, it appears to be well-worn from long and repeated use.  It is stowed for quick and convenient access and standing ready.  Certainly, I can observe that it has assisted in the completion of many tasks.

Second, in places like Panama, where most people have relatively little compared to those in developed economies, one regularly sees things in use that are simple and unembellished.  I have written previously about how fallen trees are cut into lumber on the spot with a chainsaw.  Here, waste is seldom, even shameful.

This little ladder has me looking inside this morning.  You see, things  and people for that matter, are not what we see and think they are … at least initially.  I am reminded of the shortest player in NBA professional basketball history.  In the sport of giants, Tyrone “Muggsy” Bogues, all 5′ 3″ of him, scored 6,858 points playing in 889 games during his 14 year career.  Take a look at this picture for perspective.  Had I seen him on a playground, there is no way I would have chosen Muggsy for my team.  That he was drafted in 1987 in the First Round by Washington out of Wake Forest University is not believable.  There is little doubt in my mind that he made many experts feel dumb … year after year.

Friends, what really matters is the truth in what we see, not what we overlook because it appears to be something else.  Every single human being has unlimited potential and great value.  How we see someone is immaterial.  That is, unless we see them as they actually are.

Grace at 1 1/2 years old. She is almost 4 now.