I want to live life in such a way that if a photograph were taken at random, it would be a cool photograph. (David Nicholls)
On a January Friday the main roads are clear and there are a few hours before the next arctic blast, so Jay and I run errands. We stop for lunch at a fast-food restaurant, not our first choice, but it works with the time we have.
A man with long white hair, Santa-style beard, and red T-shirt stands looking at the picture menu. We step back to let him enter the line ahead of us.
“No, you go first. I haven’t decided yet.” We talk about the weather as Jay and I wait to order.
“That will be $10.51,” the woman at the register says, sounding terminally bored.
The gentleman with the flowing beard tosses his credit card onto the counter. I turn around, stunned. “Thank you, but…”
“You don’t have to thank me. Thank, Jesus.”
I hold my breath, fearing a lecture on Christianity. It doesn’t happen, and I am grateful. My church has strong Christian roots, but I believe that a person’s spirituality can develop from multiple sources. The proof comes in the individual’s life, in an ability to love. This man makes his statement. Once. Then chooses to live it. He speaks of other matters: retiring in the distant future, current outside temperature, different kinds of chicken sandwiches. He waves to one of the employees working in the back.
His blue eyes sparkle. He definitely gives the impression of an individual who lives outside-of-the-box. But that is the way with geniuses, artists, and saints. “Just pass it on,” he says.
This may be January, almost a month after Christmas. However, I wonder if Santa, or Saint Pass-On-Some-Kindness hasn’t been hanging out at unlikely places lately, waiting to give folks a smile just when they need it.
The sun brightens—for a while, a blinding blue on top of the last coating of white. It won’t last long. No weather pattern in this part of the world ever does. It just feels that way. The result of generosity? Well, it can be a seed that grows into almost anything that is beautiful.
What a delightful surprise. I hadn’t expected that scenario.
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Thank you for sharing and greetings 🙂 🙂
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Terry, thanks so much for emailing me your posts so I don’t have to go thru Linked In to get them! I really appreciate that and I really appreciate your stories! love, Marcia
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Thanks, N. Johnson, Gede Prama, and Marcia Erdman. Peace and joy to all!
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