It’s gotta happen. I’ve got to get some better lighting in this apartment. In September, we moved across the hall and down a level: bigger apartment and a porch that provides a snapshot of the Olympics.
Trouble is, I haven’t got enough lights to fill the space and it is imperative to have sufficient lighting for Seattle’s doom-and-gloom winters.
I made my way to Value Village today to check out a light a friend saw there. It turned out to be cute but was too heavy and wobbly for my taste.
I swung by the men’s department to look for jeans for Adam. I swung by the belts. Therein I encountered a man who was trying to pick out a tie.
I immediately picked up on his fragile state and felt concern. He must’ve tuned into my frequency.
“I’m sorry. I’m so sorry to bother you. I know your time is just as valuable as anyone’s but can you help me with this?” he asked holding two ties to a suit.
I hesitated.
“It’s just that my son was killed Saturday morning. Freak car accident. I haven’t slept since.”
I took in his red watery eyes.
“You know after all the arrangements, I just can’t make anymore decisions. I just can’t.”
“It’s okay. I understand.”
“You know if you’ve got a husband or a boyfriend or anything…..I don’t wanna upset anybody. It’s not like that. I just don’t wanna be alone right now.”
“I know.”
I took five minutes and helped him pick out a decent tie from a swarm of deplorable contenders.
“I don’t own any ties. I hate ties.”
“Me too.”
After we put together the best ensemble we could manage, I wished him well, told him to try and rest a little.
He gave genuine thanks.
--------------------------
Sometimes life gives us the opportunity to truly ‘be there’ for another individual, even if that person is a stranger.
A spark of desperate need ignites.
An understanding soul steps in and reminds them that the house is not, in fact, burning to the ground.
The immediate panic resides.
The understanding soul abandons everything but for a few moments and gives her full attention to the person in need.
The two part ways and the person in need feels reassurance that we are all, in fact, connected and that, somehow, everything is gonna be okay.
(It’s good to get out of your own head a pay attention to the needs of those around you.)
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1 comment:
Interesting how we so often cannot do that for those we are closest to.
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