Tonight I took a few minutes to catch up on the “news” on Facebook. I saw yet another post from Humans of New York. Remember I told y’all this photographer is travelling around the world on a UN World Tour? Are you following Brandon and his adventures? Oh, the lives he is touching with what he is sharing daily–and I’m one of them.
Earlier today Brandon the photographer shared that he would be at a park in Delhi this afternoon if anyone wanted to meet up with him. I had forgotten about that invitation until this evening when I saw a picture he shared of a big crowd of people, some holding up signs and all looking happy to be there.
Brandon captioned the photo with these words:
Thanks to all of you who came to the meet-up in Delhi. It went about as well as a spontaneous meet-up could possibly go. Amazingly, we were able to have a pretty organized, calm speech. Until the very end, of course, when we ran from the police. Coolest part for me was when the police were looking for someone to blame for the crowd, and asked: “Who is he with?” And everyone screamed in unison: “All of us!”
You can see the post for yourself here.
As I read those words once, twice, I looked at the joy in the picture. I was moved. I imagined what it must have been like for Brandon to hear those words said by everyone there–“All of us!” He belongs with all of us.
Wow.
A couple of days ago, when I wrote my letter to Disney, one of my friends shared it on her Facebook page. She prefaced it by saying, “Yes! What my girl just said!”
That humbled me and moved me to tears. “My” girl.
It’s what we all really want, isn’t it–or is it just me? Don’t we all want to belong with someone? To be claimed as one of their own?
The word “with” is powerful–belonging to and belonging with are two totally different things.
With is alongside, with is a partnership, with is taking care of each other and sharing the journey. With is having a place, a spot.
With is belonging.
Is there someone who needs to hear that they belong with you?
Tonight I’m thankful for Brandon’s journey and all of the stories and photos he has shared. They have opened up my eyes and heart to so many stories I never would have known before. And I give thanks that he and all of his friends in the park today helped me recognize exactly what it is that my heart and soul needs to feel so very much–to belong with, to be claimed.
May you all have someone who, when the world asks, “who does this person belong with,” raises their hand and calls out at the top of their lungs–“ME!”
Love and belonging to all.
I Might Need A Nap 