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Dear Life
You made me feel aged today.
He sat next to me in the car, the young man that he was, and told me that I was wise. Now I have never been called this before, especially not from one so young as he. I was rather surprised by this unexpected turn of events. One minute we are discussing sexual promiscuity, drinking and the life of the average student and the next he asks me if I am religious. Now why is it that these topics seem to fall onto the opposite end of the spectrum and yet they always enter the same conversation? He was asking me for an honest outsider perspective on what he termed "a socially inept Irish society". He wanted to know why I started working as young as I did and what made me wake up in the morning. He stated that I was startlingly different. "A freak" in other words he said, throwing back his head with a shy smile, waiting for the punch that never came. "You're right", I said, a proud one at that. We spoke about God then and why God matters or doesn't matter to some. We spoke about relating to God and how it affects a life. And then my car stopped in front of his house and his hand was taking a hold of mine in a firm handshake and his mother was at the door to see him in. A cut and dry business transaction. A days wages with a little extra stash.
He is working as a barman to pay for his postgraduate studies this September. He is hoping to have enough money to see himself through the first semester. He hopes to work during term to make up the rest.
His name is David. I do not know his surname. He acted in a video for me today. It was arranged through Facebook, via a friend of his, who is working for me this summer. In total I spent 4 hours in his company. I know very little about him and yet the essence was revealed. He knows my name and a few scanty other details, yet something of my soul was given.
Life, you startled me today. How is it that the smallest of moments are so great in the eye of eternity?
Life, please keep teaching me.
Yours for the taking,
Claire
15 comments:
It only startled you because you were able and capable of noticing. :) A rare thing. Yes, help us Lord to have the capacity for such.
oh wonderful! i just love stories like this...
The life knows, what we are able to do, but we know, what we can to do...
or inversely? :)
I like this story, too.
(my first name is Claire. really!)
oh, how i can relate to this...so very much!! when i worked as a casa, i had many of the same experiences you just talked about and then when i worked at the boys and girls club....it happened again....
i love when life does this to us.....
And the virtual becomes real.
I like these kind of startlings... :)
i like this. i like the way you write. i'm going to need to visit you again, friend. you teach me...
This image is spectacular, as are your words. I'm glad there are still people tackling the deep questions I seem to have given up on of late. I've taken to swimming in the shallows. It feels safer there, though at times I miss the feeling of diving deep and risking drowning. Your blog helps me keep in touch with that feeling.
Those little moments that catch us off guard seem to BE life to me. The uncanny way those moments unfold right before our eyes reminds of this: The kingdom of God is not far from you...
a wonderful story you tell..in the most unlikely place..or not..
WOW! Isn't it amazing how far our world has fallen from the Christian standard that was prevalent in the establishment of most European countries, and my own dear USA?
But, how wonderful, you had the chance to share Who True Wisdom is.
And I agree with Deidra--these startling happenings are the essence of life. They give life and joy to our purpose for living.
Much Blessings,
Janis
it is amazing when we are giving this kind of oppurtunity....Life, most certainly has it's moments...
I was thinking after I read this , Claire,
of how much my life seems to be made up of more and more of these situations in the last few years.
I am always left with wonder,
and with the feeling that these are the moments in all of our days of making that really count.
I love these moments. I've noticed they happen all the time once you're open to them. And while that young man touched your heart, I'm very certain you returned the favour.
Great post Claire.
I think I love and hate those moments.
On the city basketball courts, I hear the guys group players into "young bulls" and "old heads." I know where I stand there.
Right now I can run with them, but it won't be for long.
My joints ache.
They have come to me with some good, hard questions.
Learning to love and see those moments for what they are...
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