The Gift

Today I had to make a trip to my local post office.
What a trip into humanity I had...

First, I met a woman who chatted me up regarding being busy.
Neither of us was in that much of a hurry.
We shared our views on life... and our involvement in it.  
We shared a common belief that we all,  as a people,  need to take a breather...
We decided that no one really is all that busy and that we can throw ourselves into life if we truly want to.

Whilst standing in line (after said convo),  I noticed a man come into the room.
He had something in his hand.
He rummaged in the pile of boxes for shipping.  I watched as he found just the right one.

It was then that I noticed that he was shipping a set of sheets.  
You heard me.

What struck me the most wasn't his choice of contents.   What struck me was that, in this time of gaily wrapped presents and meaningless  hoohahs,  he was sending a piece of real life...

No festive paper.
No beribboned box.
No display of any holiday or allegiance to any faith.

Got me to thinking...  doesn't it always?

Perhaps he could not afford some fancy packaging...
Perhaps he didn't care to go that route...

For a lot of people, these are quite hard times.
Was his recipient in real need?  Was he, as well,  given his lack of excess?

I was given pause as I thought of all of the gifts I have purchased this season...
Some practical.
Some frivolous...

I wondered if the situation of this man called for  an unembellished package.
No hype.
No falderal.

Just heart.

Someone out there is lucky.
Someone cared.
Someone did what they could.
Someone gave of themselves.

Would that we all could receive such a gift.

Or give one.

The Ties That Bind

A few nights ago I was watching a familiar comedy on TV.
In the scene was a reference to a necktie.

Odd as it may seem, this took me back to a moment in my life which I will forever cherish...

Many years ago, I was at the grocery store and whilst waiting in line, a very frazzled young man approached the checkout...  He was dressed quite nattily and had an untied necktie about his neck.

"Does anyone know how to tie a tie?" he asked, with more than a trace of frustration.

I said that I did and he beamed.

As soon as I was finished with my purchase we began our conversation...

I went on to explain the ins and outs of the half Windsor, the full Windsor and the four-in-hand.

At the end of it, all I got back from this lovely young man was a look of confusion.

So... there in the store, at the end of the line, I took matters into my own hands.  Literally.

I grasped the tie around his neck and tied it for him dashingly.

I have seen many a person happy and satisfied...

I have seen people fulfilled...

Nothing has ever given me anything quite like the look on this man's face.

I was immediately taken back to the same lesson I had received many years before from my father.  Here I was sharing the same moment... in a grocery store no less.

I left the store that evening knowing that I had connected with a "son" who wasn't mine...

In recalling this long lost memory, I am reminded that we are all fathers... sons... brothers...

I smile still as I write this.

I wonder if he ever remembers that man in the store who took the time to be there...

A Simple Life..

As I sat this morning having a delicious latte, I went over the things in my mind that I thought made the most difference in my life...

I came to the realization that the biggest things were the smallest things.

Friends...
Family...

Yes, I know everyone says this.

The voice from beyond (or perhaps within)  kept speaking...

Satisfaction...
Happiness...
Contentment...
Acceptance...
Humility...

Simplicity...

Strife is a choice.

Today I am going with the flow...

May it wash over me in its purity...

May it wash over you...

Simple.

How You Look At It...

There are many places and times where we hear that it is one's perspective that matters most...

I would agree.

It is my humble opinion that our choice of 'awareness' is crucial.   It keeps us out of trouble,  gives us a 'heads up',  and allows information to enter from our world... things both seen and unseen.  I have never been accused of having my head in the sand.   Other places, yes.  Perspective is an exercise in awareness.

It is with that in mind that I offer this thought... 

As I headed out this morning, I noticed the amazing sunrise... all tangerine-y and glowing.  I understand enough science to know that this is a result of the pollution due to life in a modern world.

I chose to see beyond the pollution and see instead a color usually only found in citrus fruits.

My wife tells me that I have perspective down cold when it comes to the kitchen and cooking...

She has told me on many an occasion that if she looked into the fridge and saw only 4 eggs and a piece of swiss cheese, she'd simply give up and call for pizza.   

She claims that I would open the door, find the same things and see a quiche.  

She is right.

I am sure that I have wondered why,  if she could observe this in me, she couldn't  see the quiche.  

Hmm...

There is something that I have noticed often.   It is people's attempt to minimize or even avoid, at all costs, unhappiness and grief. 

Despair even...

There have been times in life when I haven't had a lot.  There have been times of amazing success and richness .  There has been hopelessness, failure, confusion and doubt...

All of these are perspectives... and subjective.   I may have done without (fill in the blank), but I have never lacked fullness.  

I am not advocating the enjoyment of unhappiness (masochism aside).   

I can't say that I am thrilled when life gets to be too much, but I am convinced and buoyed by the knowledge that as bad as things may be in that moment,  goodness can and will be just as intense.   

Day does follow night, right?   

There are two sides to every story.

We can learn from our mistakes.

If it is possible for a computer program to turn an object around to view it from another side, then why are we, as the most amazing of creations, standing so firmly in one place?

Today I ask you to take a moment to see something in your world from a new point of view.  

Find surprise...

Find inspiration...

Find a new way of looking at it... 

Whatever Happened?

As I sit here this morning reading news from all corners of the world, on a variety of topics, I am wondering what happened to good news.

I know about what war is raging, what economic downturns have occurred,  what some politician has offensively stated, who has been murdered, what bargain that saves me 6 cents is available online, how many people have lost a home or a job and the brand of undies that Paris Hilton buys.

Perhaps I am a Pollyanna who would just as soon ignore the real world... or not.

I take pride in being aware, involved, knowledgeable and "up-to-date".

The real world is where I live after all.

I guess what is bothering me is that the things that could uplift and edify people have been relegated to some cute human interest (ironic) story.  If we, as  humans are interested, then please give us something worth our time and energy.

Whatever happened to joy?

Can you imagine the headlines?  

70 million people experienced joy today!

Whatever happened to overcoming adversity?

Despite obstacles, 300 million made it!

Someone survived!

I don't know about you, but I am over the sadness, the badness, the fluff and the inconsequential...

My being resounds in joy today.

Just saying....

Indivisible...

As is true of most mornings, I was off to the store this crisp fall (ish) day at promptly 6a.m.

I listen to the radio in my car as it is the only place I do anymore thanks to the net.

On my way home, I caught a segment with a group of grade schoolers reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.   Such sweet voices reciting a snippet that I too remember from my youth...   I found myself 'pledging' along...

This time, however, there was something that caught in my throat...    the word indivisible.

Webster defines this to mean not divisible... as in unable to be divided...

As someone who is (I hope) in touch with the world at large, I felt such disappointment at this point.   

As a nation we have never been more divided... religion against religion, party against party, gender against gender, orientation against orientation... an 'us' versus 'them' mentality as it were.

Important as it may be to be oneself,  and to be forthright in our endeavors and beliefs, we cannot forget that we are all here sharing this space and time.  Although I in no way advocate people all being alike ( though this is a common theme these days),  I can remember a time when there was a distinct air of comradeship and kinship.  

I no longer feel it.

I feel more that I am looking over my shoulder and/or watching myself more closely in my words and interactions...

One nation... 

Indivisible... 

Divided...

Changes...

For those of you  who have followed me here, know that I am not a talented computer guy...  I accidentally lost all of my info and have had to begin again...

I am not sure if this is cause to pull out my hair or a reason to celebrate a new beginning...

Let's go with the latter.

Watch for what I am sure will be continuous changes to the blog and please find me again if you lost touch.

I love you all!

Rob