Awakened

    Travel delays along the rail line resulted in missing our train connections. Huddled among strangers in the cold and less than hospitable bowels of Union Station, we were remembering the last time this had happened and the long bus ride that took us on a “milk run” from city to city before getting home.
    Our lamenting about the injustice of being so inconvenienced once again, was quickly brought into perspective.  On one side; a young mother with a 15 month old baby, a stroller, several over stuffed carry bags and a cell phone that didn’t work.  Her welfare became our focus.  Befriending and commiserating; sharing our granola bars and bottled water and helping to carry and load her baggage unto the bus became our mission.
    On the other side; a group of visually impaired men and women who were making their way home after winning the National Championship for Blind Curlers.  They were a team of Champions!  Nothing could diminish their enthusiasm and their joy.
    A sweet, loving mother and a smiling baby reminded us that challenges can be conquered with tender patience and trust even in the outstretched hand of a stranger.   The visually impaired reminded us that in spite of limitations, there are still victories to be celebrated and joy to be shared.
    We were awakened to what matters most. We were reminded again of how companions on life’s journey can be a rich blessing to one another when we are fully awake and ready to respond with gifts of shared joy and simple acts of kindness.
        “Every person who touches our lives
            teaches us something about ourselves.” 
                        from Eat, Pray & Love
Ruth Black
March  2016