Some days a moment stays with me to the point where I need to write about it, even when I had my thoughts all set to share about something else.
Tonight is just such a night.
This evening I took Miss Sophie out for a walk. Cooter joined us on his bike, since he’s still grounded but needed to stretch his legs. As we wandered around the corner and one street over, I crossed paths with a young man who was continuously dribbling a basketball. Up down up down up down, pass to the other hand, and then up down up down up down again. He was good. And he kept walking the whole time. (I wish I were that coordinated.)
Cooter and I went down a dead-end street and back up, with all the stopping and smelling that Miss Sophie wanted to do. She was in her happy zone. Cooter pushed with his little legs and made it up the sloped street, pumping as hard as he could. As we got to the top of the street, there was the young man with the basketball again, heading back in the opposite direction. We crossed paths again.
Something or Someone prompted me to speak. (My daughter says I am channeling my Mama when I do this.) “Hey, you’re really good! You play on a team?”
He turned back to me, and his whole countenance had changed. Because of THAT smile. His eyes lit up, and I was blown away for a moment.
“Not yet,” he said, quietly. And then with a little more confidence, “But I’m going to try out.”
I asked if it were for the local high school team, and he nodded yes. “Well, best of luck to you! You are really, really talented.”
He smiled, ducked his head, and we each headed in our own direction back to our homes.
I can’t seem to get the image of his face all lit up out of my head or heart. What had looked like a young man meandering along on an early fall evening was actually a young man focused on his dreams. Working intently on making them happen.
I am glad I stopped and noticed. That was a Gift for me to see. That light though. A precious treasure.
We all have a light of sorts inside of us, don’t we? We just need someone to notice that thing about us that makes our heart and soul shine, and then…..
Look out, world. You’re going to need sunglasses, we are so bright.
Tonight I’m thankful for the reminder that people are always more than what we see. There are so many stories in each one of us, and if we take time and are open, we might even be blessed enough to see one. I’m grateful for the chance to see that light in the young man, and for The One who helped me to speak up to begin with. I am inspired by this young man’s intensity and focus. I am also thankful for the reminder that things are not always what they seem. All I saw at first was a young man playing around with a basketball, when what I was really seeing was dream-making in progress.
It felt almost sacred, being a witness to that moment, all that effort.
May we all have someone who will see the light in us and remind us that it is there, and may our hearts be glad and filled with the drive to keep trying until we make our dreams happen and our light shine even brighter.
Love to all.
I Might Need A Nap 