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I enjoy art wherever I find it: last week we went to a piano concert Tuesday night and a play Saturday night. Both art, well done. But yesterday I took our dog, Babo, to the vet for his annual shots.

As you can see, he’s a small dog, and when the vet came into the room with three syringes, she filled her pockets with dog biscuits and sat on the floor. (I’ve never seen a vet work anywhere other than standing up with the dog on the examining table.) She petted him, told him what a good dog he was and what a handsome dog he was, and then she put a dog biscuit off to her left side. When Babo went to get it, his rump was in perfect position for the first shot. Then she put down another biscuit, bringing his body around to where she wanted it for the second shot. Third shot, same drill. All three shots in what seemed like about 30 seconds.

That’s art. Babo didn’t appear to notice any of the shots, and while she continued to talk with him, she did the physical exam.

I was sharing this story with my friend Eric, an airline pilot, and he said he often flies with people who make an art out of flying the plane. Wayne Gretzky was an artist on the hockey rink, and Derek Jeter was extraordinarily smooth at shortstop. Artists all. Once, I watched skilled carpenters framing a house: the same smoothness, speed, and dexterity as the vet, just a different medium. I marveled when the guys did my concrete driveway a few years ago. It goes down just a pile of concrete, and a few guys in a few minutes (that’s all the time they have!) smooth it out. It’s all art.

May we all see our work as not only useful but as an opportunity to be artists.

Servants, do what you’re told by your earthly masters. And don’t just do the minimum that will get you by. Do your best. Work from the heart for your real Master, for God, confident that you’ll get paid in full when you come into your inheritance. Keep in mind always that the ultimate Master you’re serving is Christ. The sullen servant who does shoddy work will be held responsible. Being Christian doesn’t cover up bad work. (Colossians 3.22 – 25, MSG)