Sunday, October 10, 2010
Friday, August 06, 2010
Bless You
Your voice cut through the noise of the market from half a block away. I heard your hands clapping, keeping time. I heard your soulful voice, singing the words of a song I sang as a child. But the joy I heard behind it gave it so much more meaning. I walked further, looked across the street, and saw you smile. And it brought the song to life so much more.
I walked across the street, meaning to just drop a couple bucks in the cup at your feet, and the smile grew on my face as I urged myself to hold it together, but could feel the tears forming in the back of my eyes. I got closer, and saw your smile grow even bigger, as you shook your head ever so slightly, while you kept singing, and you spread your arms out. You reached out to hug me, a complete stranger.
You, a later middle-aged man, who appeared a little down on your luck, but seemingly with more heart and peace than so many others.
Me a younger woman who just an hour earlier was talking about how lucky I am by the worlds standards.
Two strangers, meeting on a corner, drawn together by the words of a simple song.
You sang, “He’s got the whole world, in His hands…He’s got the brothers and the sisters, in His hands…”
In the instant you smiled at me, broke from singing for just a second, put your arms around me, and said to me “Bless you, sister,” I truly felt like I was in His hands. The perspective and joy you gave me in that moment is worth worlds more than the small amount of money I placed in the cup at your feet.
I turned to walk away, with tears now rolling down my face. Changed.
Thank you, brother. Bless YOU.
I walked across the street, meaning to just drop a couple bucks in the cup at your feet, and the smile grew on my face as I urged myself to hold it together, but could feel the tears forming in the back of my eyes. I got closer, and saw your smile grow even bigger, as you shook your head ever so slightly, while you kept singing, and you spread your arms out. You reached out to hug me, a complete stranger.
You, a later middle-aged man, who appeared a little down on your luck, but seemingly with more heart and peace than so many others.
Me a younger woman who just an hour earlier was talking about how lucky I am by the worlds standards.
Two strangers, meeting on a corner, drawn together by the words of a simple song.
You sang, “He’s got the whole world, in His hands…He’s got the brothers and the sisters, in His hands…”
In the instant you smiled at me, broke from singing for just a second, put your arms around me, and said to me “Bless you, sister,” I truly felt like I was in His hands. The perspective and joy you gave me in that moment is worth worlds more than the small amount of money I placed in the cup at your feet.
I turned to walk away, with tears now rolling down my face. Changed.
Thank you, brother. Bless YOU.
Wednesday, June 09, 2010
Sunday, May 23, 2010
Reason #47....
The concept of "best friend" seems to disappear from spoken vocabulary around the age of 19... but it hasn't left the way I feel.
Mine gave me reason #47 (no I didn't count - just estimating) that I love having her in my life yesterday. I got a picture text from her (and if I had a phone with that new-fangled technology that would let me download the picture to my computer you could see it), of a kind of rough looking upholstered chair, asking "How hard would this be to reupholster? It's only $5!" After a phone call and a couple more texts telling her it might be tough, but it would be fun, she came back with "I got it for $1! I'm so excited!" Shortly followed by "I love that I have a friend like you who entertains me with these projects."
I love that too.
And another reason I love her...
She let's me be a part of this sweet girl's life.
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Couldn't be more disappointed...
...ok, I probably could be more disappointed, but this bit of news upset me tonight.
Did you know.... Ann M. Martin (of The Baby-Sitter's Club fame) herself did not in fact write all 213 volumes of the series? She estimates she only wrote 60 to 80 of them. Granted, the series was only around for 14 years, and writing them herself would require a pace of more than one a month. I suppose I've still been living in the world where Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey (on a side note, my favorite babysitter from my own childhood was named Stacey) met three times a week to talk about the kids they watched, solved mysteries while watching approximately 20 kids between them, went on vacation together (with all the kids they sat for), and I didn't do the math but instead hoped that this one woman was this prolific a writer and fabulous a storyteller.
Crushed, Ann M. Martin. Crushed.
Did you know.... Ann M. Martin (of The Baby-Sitter's Club fame) herself did not in fact write all 213 volumes of the series? She estimates she only wrote 60 to 80 of them. Granted, the series was only around for 14 years, and writing them herself would require a pace of more than one a month. I suppose I've still been living in the world where Kristy, Mary Anne, Claudia, and Stacey (on a side note, my favorite babysitter from my own childhood was named Stacey) met three times a week to talk about the kids they watched, solved mysteries while watching approximately 20 kids between them, went on vacation together (with all the kids they sat for), and I didn't do the math but instead hoped that this one woman was this prolific a writer and fabulous a storyteller.
Crushed, Ann M. Martin. Crushed.
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Power of Observation:
A quiz of things you see everyday.
This one's for you AD. Are you brave enough to take the quiz? And then post your score?
http://www.oldjoeblack.0nyx.com/thinktst.htm
This one's for you AD. Are you brave enough to take the quiz? And then post your score?
http://www.oldjoeblack.0nyx.com/thinktst.htm
Tuesday, February 02, 2010
Revel in the Mundane
Trying to take some time to appreciate the little things. A recap of the minor, but beautiful, from last week.
Monday: 30 extra minutes in my workout thanks to the guy who walked in an took the bike next to mine.
Tuesday: A picture, even if only for me employee id!, that I thought truly looked like me, and I found "acceptable," and it only took one take!
Wednesday: The realization that I really do want to go back to school - it just felt right!
Thursday: A surprise lunch invitation from Matt, and he offered to pay! It was so nice to see him excited about school - even if it was chemistry, botany, and some plant imaging thing!
Friday: Slippers under my desk at work that made my day just a little more comfortable.
Saturday: Clean sheets and a new, warm blanket on my bed made me fall asleep feeling like I was floating on a cloud.
Sunday: A hug goodbye from one of my four year-olds at Sunday school.
Monday: 30 extra minutes in my workout thanks to the guy who walked in an took the bike next to mine.
Tuesday: A picture, even if only for me employee id!, that I thought truly looked like me, and I found "acceptable," and it only took one take!
Wednesday: The realization that I really do want to go back to school - it just felt right!
Thursday: A surprise lunch invitation from Matt, and he offered to pay! It was so nice to see him excited about school - even if it was chemistry, botany, and some plant imaging thing!
Friday: Slippers under my desk at work that made my day just a little more comfortable.
Saturday: Clean sheets and a new, warm blanket on my bed made me fall asleep feeling like I was floating on a cloud.
Sunday: A hug goodbye from one of my four year-olds at Sunday school.
In the midst of the busy-ness and stress that comes with everyday life, I'm taking some time to revel in the stuff that really matters.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
I believe, help me in my unbelief!
"I don't think you believe you deserve to be happy."
***********************************************
"Scattered words and empty thoughts...
Seem to pour from my heart.
I've never felt so torn before...
Seems I don't know where to start.
But it's now....
that I feel Your grace fall like rain.
From every fingertip, washing away my pain.
'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness
'Cause I still believe in Your truth'
Cause I still believe in Your Holy Word
Even when I don't see, I still believe."
***********************************************
"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in pace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34
***********************************************
"Scattered words and empty thoughts...
Seem to pour from my heart.
I've never felt so torn before...
Seems I don't know where to start.
But it's now....
that I feel Your grace fall like rain.
From every fingertip, washing away my pain.
'Cause I still believe in Your faithfulness
'Cause I still believe in Your truth'
Cause I still believe in Your Holy Word
Even when I don't see, I still believe."
***********************************************
"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in pace and be freed from your suffering." Mark 5:34
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