The Janitor, the Bully, & the Sunset

Real success, comes from deep within. We are all creative. It is our birthright.

Awkward and gaunt, the little man shuffled slowly down the hall, carefully pushing the wet mop on the floor beside the baseboard. Occasionally, he would stop and diligently scrub a spot until it disappeared. Every afternoon after school hours, he repeated the routine until the floors of the hall and the classrooms were spotless and gleaming. When the job was complete, he would rinse the mop and bucket and set them to dry. He was a careful man. He took pride in doing tasks properly.

Available for small repairs and cleanups during school hours, he didn't just perform these tasks; he enjoyed them. He took pleasure in setting a screw just right, in securing a loose door or repairing a broken pane. He beamed to see the students happy, teasing and jostling, rushing to class, and gathering in small groups. Some were friendly to him, but many ignored him. He didn’t mind. He delighted in their laughter, watching them grow and mature. The lifecycle. He was content, finding peace in his routine and the satisfaction of a necessary job well done.

Late one afternoon, an angry student rushed down the hall, face red, mind on a lousy disagreement with his art teacher. His foot struck the bucket as he focused on the exit door ahead. Disgusted, the student kicked the bucket until it fell and soaked a large area of the hall. He sneered at the janitor. “You need to be more careful. Keep that bucket out of the walkway, you old fool.”

The older man straightened and stood erect, his hand on the mop handle as if it were a staff. Blue eyes blazing, then softening, he attuned silently to the student’s vibration. A light of recognition glowed between them as the older man peered into the student’s face.  

“You are disappointed. Your creation did not meet with praise.”

“Not even close,” said the student. This is the third time it has been rejected, and she made fun of it. She says I’m not listening to instructions, and no one will want what I’m painting. I don’t understand. I’m not supposed to follow instructions. I’m an artist. I create.”  

The old man asked, “What is your purpose for creating? Do you create for yourself or others?”  

The young student answered, “I’m talented. I want people to see what I paint. I want them to buy my paintings. I want to be successful.”

“Ah,” said the janitor. “Success can mean different things. What feels like success today in the commercial world may become valueless tomorrow. He hesitated, then drew in a deep breath. The message came through him for the young student. “As for people buying your paintings, who can control what others choose? We see trends and what is fashionable right now. Popularity is something that can change with the wind. Who can predict?”

The boy frowned but did not move.

“Success, real success, comes from deep within, where everyone’s creativity is birthed. We are all creative. It is our birthright. There is an inner compass that guides you softly. It steers you a little to the right or the left when you quiet your mind and allow it. It helps you to trust your instincts. That gentle compass guides you to fulfillment. The mind chatter stops. The emotions settle. The peace you create this way allows you to understand the other creations of the Universe: plants, animals, all of nature, other humans, the stars and planets, and perhaps other dimensions. To experience this connection is pure joy. Then, you will understand the meaning of success. You will have what you need. You will create through all your senses. You will share who you are with others. You will allow them to share with you.”

“But I want to paint something timeless and extraordinary that people will rave over and write reviews about. I want to paint something important to others. And I want them to pay a lot for it. I want to be rich like the man who painted The Sunset. That painting must have sold for millions!”

The janitor smiled as he finished mopping the spilled water. “Oh yes, The Sunset. Rich. Rich, indeed,” he said as the boy left the building.       

The janitor walked home down the path behind the school. He picked a few vegetables for his neighbors from his carefully tended garden, fed some birds eagerly awaiting him, then turned to enter his tiny bungalow. As he did, he saw that the young student had followed him home.

“Would you like to come in?” he said. The boy followed him, stunned at what he saw. Several paintings were displayed, but one caught his immediate attention. It was a copy of The Sunset! The boy looked closely. No, it was the original! “But…..how?…where?…why do you have this? Here? How could you afford this on your janitor’s salary? Did you steal it? What if someone stole it from you? The awkward questions flew out of the boy’s mouth!

“I don’t know what I’d do if someone stole it,” the janitor said thoughtfully.  “I suppose I’d have to paint something else.”