Never in a million years did I think I’d develop a keen interest in a building until The Shard came along. The Shard was designed by Renzo Piano. It stands 309.6 metres (1,016 ft.) high. It is currently the tallest building in the United Kingdom and the 87th tallest building in the world. (www.wikipedia.org)

 

When The Shard was inaugurated in July 2012, I noticed something seemed out of place; an architectural mishap perhaps. The glass panels had gaps in between them. On sunny days, the sky tells the tale of the chemistry between The Shard and the sun, as beams are produced in the sky when the sun’s rays hit its glass panel or its top. Renzo said The Shard was designed to flirt with the sun.

 

With all the beauty this monument elicits, I wondered for a long time why the gaps in the panels did not close up. I was convinced that the building was uncompleted. To my bewilderment, my assumption was discredited on my first visit to the Shard – Work Christmas Party 2012. Surely my naivety of architectural designs was affirmed.

 

On arrival, I observed that the glass panels were not made to close-up. There were inner glass panels before the outer panels which were not visible from my observation point. A few days later, I had an interview in a building 0.748 meters west of The Shard. The gaps in the panel were not visible from this location. However, back in my office, the gaps were conspicuous. I have since found out that the panels do not close-up, to allow the building breathe.

 

The more I observed The Shard, the more I realised that it is metaphorical to people. We tend to have a misconception about people when we observe them from a distance. We often think they have unacceptable shortcomings until we get to know them a little closer.

 

“Different” is good and we should learn to accept the differences we see in others. God did not design you to be like everyone else. Your shortcomings may look like flaws to others, but the truth is you are complete just the way you are. So go ahead and be you. Love you and live out your dreams.

 

The next time someone tries to put you down, think about The Shard, remember its outer panels and SMILE. Be the best you there is and let your beam light up the sky!

 

One final thought about celebrating your uniqueness … “Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out; you formed me in my mother’s womb. I thank you, High God—you’re breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvellously made! I worship in adoration—what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body; You know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something.” Psalm‬ ‭139:13-14 MSG‬‬

 

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