One Day at a Time – Opening Our Eyes To Possibility
Here Jordan stands in front of a window that has a waterfall streaming down its face. Beautiful, tranquil, serene…. the words could go on. Peaceful was one word a friend used to describe this image when she thought that the view he was fixated on beyond the water were trees and bushes. What do you see? Does this image make you feel peaceful or restless, hopeful or lost? Knowing just what he was so intently looking at may help you to see a view of this world, our world, and possibilities beyond our glass.
On the outside people are in constant motion. Maybe several hundred of them have passed by this window unaware of the wide-eyed eight-year-old boy fixated on the dance they all had created in play with the motion of water. In the moments we stood there hundreds of people scurried through our world. Not a single one in perfect focus or even motionless due to the liquid effects.
I see this as a metaphor for life. Throughout each day, how many pass through our view unaware that their paths brushed by one another never really connecting? Do we scurry through life with so many tasks to be done not realizing that we just may be missing something, or should I say “SOMEONE” who could help us to make our load a little lighter?
Today, I took my first long walk since my last surgery (just over two weeks ago) around a beautiful lake. Most of the hour-plus-long journey I talked on the cell phone with a friend. In that time I could not tell you how many other people passed by. Once the phone was silent I stopped to take in the view without word or conversation. Then I became aware of every soul who walked this same path. One particular woman, walking in the same direction as me, came to my attention. She was wearing a wide brimmed hat and dark glasses. We avoided each other’s space as she passed on by while I stood looking at the view. Then, as I carried on and picked up my pace to go around her, I made a decision to just say “Hello.” I really didn’t feel like striking up conversation with a stranger but little did I know that this woman, with her life lessons, would affect me for the future because she has been where I am going.
For the next half hour we slowly walked and talked. Years ago she had a total hysterectomy and detailed the effort it has taken to bring her body back into balance. These are the words I needed to hear in understanding that I too will need to be patient yet proactive in bringing balance back to my body that has just gone through a partial hysterectomy.
Sometimes we feel that as we walk in our darkness it is easier to walk it alone and not bother others with our problems. But, just before our eyes, though they may appear blurred (as we do not see their lives clearly) others could be brought into our view to help us to see with more clarity. However, it sometimes takes courage to step around that glass, that barrier of sorts, and walk up to a stranger letting them into our world. Out of the hundreds of thousands that pass by there is someone out there who has already walked our path and words may be all we need to carry on our pace as planned helping to make those latter miles of our journey just a bit lighter.
This day I am grateful for my little boy’s photograph and the connection with a stranger in dark glasses that has helped me to see the importance of connecting paths into other people’s lives. We may find that at times we must pass through barriers in order to become peaceful instead of restless, and hopeful instead of lost. By doing so we can stand stronger and be grateful for the dance of liquid and form we are all a part of.
In Other’s Words:
“Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another, ‘What! You too? I thought I was the only one”
~ C.S. Lewis~