Lately, my morning prayer has been:
“Let me see glimpses of you in the smallest of places today, Lord Jesus.”
Today, I saw beauty and life in humanity. Here’s where:
- I reunited with my children. They had hair cuts, newly pierced ears, bright white shoes, and big smiles…they had grown up. It was beautiful to look around at them in the circle today. They really want their teacher to return…as do I–partially. Until then though, we are embracing each other and embarking on this beautiful journey of Grade 3!
- I had to drive to Toronto later this afternoon to pick up something from a friend…in the meantime, I went to Starbucks–I had been given a gift card for Christmas. I stepped in, ordered my Earl Grey…and with multiple bags in hand, manuovered around to attempt find a seat: no luck. So, I stood…my mind pacing with the options I had. I then looked over and saw an elderly lady sitting at a table with two comfy chairs…the other was not in use. I casually walked over and asked if the chair was being used and she awkwardly told me that I could sit there. Not long after I was trying to make a little nest in my new found home for a few hours, did I manage to knock over my tea…spilled…all over…all over the floor….all over the floor where so many people were walking. yikes. I flailed around and finally an older gentleman asked if he could help me…within minutes he had a barista come and mop of the floor…thank God for this man! Then, I noticed my tea had an inch of liquid left in the bottom…big time BUMMER. Another older gentleman must’ve seen my look of disappointment and ordered me another one. The best part was…it was ON THE HOUSE! I then, had a good little convo with the older woman who shared a table with me…we talked about the little things in life are what matter. I thought I was watching a movie of myself.
- I went to the grocery store and while in line, I saw 2 complete strangers help each other…and then they turned and made conversation with the rest of the line-up. To see joy on 8+ people’s faces was brilliant. I thought to myself that people do really want humanity to be well. This restful thought, allowed me to smile with pleasure.
- I’m going to keep this anonymous because I get the impression that my friend would want to keep it that way. You see, she was on the subway today…and found herself in a conversation with a man who was from Israel. He began to talk of his sick daughter who had come over here for kidney transplant surgery (or something of the likes) and he was saying that he didn’t have enough money to pay for the medication. He asked a stranger to help him out. He reached out…and you know what? My friend responded. Not a little…a lot. The reason I’m telling you this is because she asked me if she did the right thing? She questioned if this man was taking advantage of her ability to give him money so generously. She questioned if and how you can give to everyone else the way she gave to this man. This made me think…and think…and think some more. A lot perspectives can be taken here. Maybe the man totally lied and gave her a run for her money…maybe the man truly needs the money…maybe the man will never return the money to her….and maybe he will return it 10 fold. Hard to know…the most beautiful thing to me though, was not about the money…it was about the heart. The willingness. The unwavering commitment to DO WELL instead of to cling to…A LOT of money. If the man lied and took the money and ran…well that would suck. But more than that, he will know that there was a trusting human, a human WILLING to sacrifice for his sake, a human willing to care enough about a perfect stranger…and maybe–maybe not now and not in 2 or 5 or 10 years–just maybe that will change him. If the man told the truth, my friend just did a REALLY great thing for humanity…helped the poor, saved a child who needs medication. The crazy thing, I could sit here all night with what-ifs and maybes…but I’m not going to. I’m simply going to tell my friend thank you. Thank you for being Christ’s hands and feet. Thank you for having a gut-wrenching feeling of tension in your heart–and for being so honest about it. Thank you for working past your perceptions or mis-perceptions of what could/should/will happen…and giving–radically giving. Not only financially…but giving love, care and worth. You see–she chose to dignify someone today…by hearing them, listening to their needs and responding. Thank you friend…you know who you are…for giving me a HUGE example to hold in my heart of who Christ is and what he calls us to—radical giving without expectation of receiving. You did a beautiful thing–rather you allowed Christ to do a beautiful thing through you today—whatever the outcome, I believe God honours when we strive to emulate his character in us. Thank you.
Instance of hope…hope in humanity, hope in life, hope in God, love and abundant grace.
I will rest–and rest well—assured that there are instances of wonderful and abounding hope…we just have to open our eyes wide enough to see it.
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