Stairs are quite a handy tool when you need to reach higher grounds without
much effort! They are also quite practical in performing daily physical
activities without the expensive inconveniences of athletic clubs or machinery!
Most stairs are quickly build out of wood and covered by carpet or linoleum.
Some stairs however, take longer to make. Take the Queen's Staircase in the
Bahamas, for example. Hundreds of slaves worked on this 102 foot staircase
between 1793 and 1794. Using axes and other sharp tools, they carved 65 steps
directly into the limestone! I can just imagine the sweat that was poured out
over this project!
The staircase was named for Queen Victoria, to celebrate her 65 years of
sovereignty - One step for each year of her reign! It provided a shorter route
to and from Bennet's Hill, and it now connects Princess Margaret Hospital with
Fort Fincastle, on the top of the hill.
A long alley hewed out of limestone leads to the bottom of the staircase, and
the alleyway is lined by exotic vegetation with a majestic fountain just to the
left, at the foot of the stairs.
I couldn't stop marvelling over the work of those who laboured on this project.
Although they had no freedom, they took pride of their work and through their
labour they gave glory to their Maker. I wonder if we couldn't learn a thing or
two from them. Is labour, in our day and age, still performed with such
attention to detail? Do we still take pride in our work? Or has the almighty
dollar replace its value?
But more importantly, how am I performing my duties at work? Does my labour
bring about dissatisfaction, or do I, in everything I do, work to give glory to
my Creator? Remember, He is the one who painstakingly took care of not only all
the details of my existence, but also all the details of my salvation!
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not
for men." (Col 3:23 NIV)
Rob Chaffart
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
everyone to look towards Jesus as the source of all the solutions to our
problems. It contains a daily inspirational story, a Bible verse and encouraging
messages. HTML and plain text versions available.
The Nugget: Published three times a week, this newsletter features inspirational devotionals and mini-sermons dedicated to drawing mankind closer to each other and to Christ.