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Monday, September 24, 2007

The FedEx Arrow



Have you ever noticed the hidden arrow in the FedEx logo? It's there - between the "E" and the "x" - in the negative white space. Once you see it, it will be the first thing your eyes are drawn to every time you see a FedEx truck.

The arrow isn't outlined. It isn't a different color. It's just there, in all of its understatedness - waiting to be found. It's easily missed. Unless you're looking for it!

I started thinking about my life in terms of this arrow. I began wondering: Are these "arrows" everywhere? Am I missing them? I want the hidden treasures in the everyday to become what my eyes are immediately drawn to. I want to revel in the Joy and Hilarity that are running around me as I'm buried under piles of laundry. I want to celebrate baby chub and acorns and flour spilled all over my kitchen.

Since spending time thinking about these arrows, I can tell you - they are everywhere! It's a splash of half-and-half instead of skim milk in my morning coffee. It's using our wedding china instead of our everyday dishes - for eating taco dip while watching Monday Night Football. It's discovering that cheerful shade of green playdoh that can only be made by smushing together the blue and the yellow.

Even more importantly, I want to purposefully hide these arrows all over my children's lives. I want to splash their memories with ice cream and lollipops and sprinklers. My hope for them is that they relive their childhood in vivid, sweet color - finding the arrows I've left for them.

I want them to find every single one of them!


27 comments:

Aunt Rach said...

have you ever just read something that seems so obvious but it just blows you away? that did it for me :) i love learning from you and hopefully this will become something instinctive for me! love you!!

Renee said...

What great thoughts you have inspired today! I want to hide arrows throughout my childrens' lives too...

Thanks for the encouragement!

Carrie! :o) said...

Oh wow, what a wonderful way with words, you have, Sarah! I love this post! For what it's worth, no, I never noticed that silly arrow, LOL ... but I did let Sadie eat rice and tomatoes for BREAKFAST today (her request, LOL)! :o)

Kristie said...

Thanks for stopping by my blog glad I came to yours I love the thoughts you shared here I will be back!!!

Janelle said...

Great truth! Thank you for pointing me in the right direction today.

Momma Roar said...

What an awesome post - I want those arrows in my children's lives too!w

Earen said...

Ok, this is one of my favorite postings you've made! You said it so beautifully & made me think of where those arrows are in my life & how to reveal them to our kids. Sometimes it's the hidden treasures that are the most precious to us & are right in front of our eyes.

Our Family said...

So, I'm standing in the kitchen reading your blog when Anna comes running up and says "Read to me, Mommy. Come sit with Anna." Talk about treasures... What a great reminder for me today!

Penless Thoughts said...

Your right.....I see it. Great post!
Susan

Alana said...

So, so true!

I've never seen the arrow in the logo before either. My husband is a graphic designer...I wonder if he's noticed it? I'll have to ask him!

~Just A Thought Ginger said...

Beautiful post Sarah! What a precious treasure that the Lord has revealed this to you now and that you can allow yourself to stop and smell the "coffee" with your kids before they grow up right before your eyes. Believe me, it happens so quickly!

I loved going back and checking out your former posts..the video was such a hoot! I'd crack up, too if my mommy was so goofy, hehe. Now I really can't wait to meet you!

Lori said...

Great post. Thanks for the great reminder to enjoy everyday to the fullest.

Lori said...

P.S. Thanks for visiting my blog.
Feel free to come back anytime.
I love your blog. I will be back again.

Kris said...

You said it sister! I love that you found something that we can all start to look for now! I'm goin' arrow huntin'!
K

diana said...

great post, sarah. i guess that's why someone came up with the saying, "don't forget to stop and smell the roses." like you said, now that you're aware of the arrows, you'll be more apt to using them.

emilymcd said...

You're clever, Sar! Writing a devotional journal? :)

Mary@notbefore7 said...

Cute analogy Sarah. Thanks for the reminders to find the hidden fun in our lives.

Just Mom said...

That was an excellent post!

I'm Tara. said...

Sar-AH! What an awesome post!! Seriously, it was perfect. You are so right -- and I want to do that, too! Thanks for blessing me with such a wonderful thought today.

Sarah Markley said...

I love this...what a wonderful thing to think about "giving" your kiddos. GREAT post today!

Tracy said...

I want arrows, too!

jennifer said...

Super post! I never saw the arrows, but now that you pointed it out I can see it first!

Jennifer said...

This post should get some kind of happy blogger award or something! I'd nominate you, anyway. I think I'm going to print this and put it on my already too-busy fridge, because I say a hearty "amen" to it. Oh, goodness... too often my eyes stay too focused on the mess of playdoh, not the cheerful colors. The cleanup pile at the sink, not the conversation at the table. The dripping children on my floor, not their smiles in the sprinklers. I have my days, but today isn't one of them... thanks for the perfectly timed words!

CONNIE'S THOUGHTS FROM THE HEART said...

Sara, great post. I have never noticed the arror in FedEx before. I will have to think about the arrors that I may be missing. I don't think I am but I will give it an extra look. Thanks, connie from Texas

Susan (5 Minutes For Mom) said...

Wow! I never saw that FedEx arrow before... cool... but more cool is what you saw in that arrow.

Thanks for sharing your wisdom!

Scribbit said...

I love your metaphor and love this post--my favorite so far!

Daisy said...

Sometimes negative space becomes something very positive. Great post!