We spend Thursday mornings at a local gym-along with other 0-3 year olds scrambling through obstacle courses. On our way out Id typically change my sons diaper in our makeshift changing station in the trunk of our car- but, this day-it was raining-so, I waited for the restroom.
We waited and waited and-my son, George – became progressively more impatient. I started to feel slight annoyance with the person encamped in the restroom-but, irregardless – I waited.
We finally got our turn and, on our way out to the car- I ran into an old friend-whom, I hadn’t seen in years. She was trailing two little kids behind her and it was the first time Id met them. Turns out, we’d been missing each other by 10-15 minutes for months.
Sometimes we catch a glimpse- these small-seemingly insignificant moments- that, upon closer inspection hint at an underlying order- bite sized moments representative of the whole.
Whether I became annoyed or remained indifferent-as I waited for the restroom, made no difference. It’s as if- the lady within was compelled to take just as much time as she had. Maybe we are all compelled by unseen forces to do and act – to propel the story forward.
The other day- on one of our library mornings- a little girl came up and-with a slight smile, stood there watching me. She then rested her hand on my knee as George sat beside me. We held our little triangle until her mother rushed over – grabbed her and proceed to scold her for mingling with strangers. I did not feel good about it nor – did the little girl – evident by the look of horror and confusion across her face.
This occurred days before the incident at the gym and yet – somehow, with just that coincidental run in- it softened the edges of the event. Even that mother – in her-what I deemed overreaction – felt compelled to do so and maybe- in turn , taught me something too.
At the end of our lives – whenever that may be – we could have spent it angry, frustrated or whatever emotion we primarily choose to inhabit – and still -we’ll all end up on our last day.
Play our roles with heart and- trust the process.
