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Crape Myrtles and sweet tea, cheese grits and hush puppies
and a fresh Fall breeze. I took in a deep breath and watched as the golden
leaves began to flutter to the ground. It was a lovely evening, the kind I used to like best in
my sleepy North Carolina town. There wasn’t much going on, most folks were
winding down. There was no traffic, no reason to hustle, just an invitation to
be for a while.
So I sat on my porch with a few neighbors that evening. We
were four total, each one of us enjoying the night in our own little way. Knowing
me, I’m pretty sure I lost myself in the trees. Dan, he probably lost himself
in his micro-brew. And the other couple (forgive me for I can’t remember their
names), I think they were talking about their new eco-washing machine from New
Zealand or maybe it was something else eco-conscious, something that miraculously
reeled both Dan and I in like willing fish. And somehow that dynamic worked so
well that each of us was smiling. Yep, I remember our smiles that evening almost
as clearly as what would happen next.
He didn’t announce himself, he just appeared out of nowhere
and the sight of him as much as his energy, caught each of us off guard. He was
big. And he was tough. The lines on his face and the rugged in his hands told
no lie. He was both lost and determined. Determined to get what he wanted. From
us.
“Gotta
light?” he said, with a deep dark voice as rich as molasses.
Was he homeless? Was
he violent? Was he mean and were we in danger? Would he hurt us if we said the
wrong thing? My neighbors fumbled, their eyes staring back in fear, their
mouths, mum.
“Hey,” I
said, as if he were an old friend. “What’s your name? I’m Brynne. Nice to meet
you,” and I outstretched my hand.
He looked at me like I was crazy but I kept my hand
outstretched, staring him right in the eye, reassuring him that I was for real.
“You gonna
shake it, or leave me hanging?” I said, pure friendly again.
So he shook it, but not before his eyes softened and his
energy quieted into something like a puppy after being reassured that his owner wasn’t
going to hit him.
“Name is
Alonso.”
“Nice to
meet you, Alonso. Now here’s the thing.” And I took in another deep breath, my heart
beating out of my skin. “None of us here smokes. So I’m afraid we don’t have a
light for you. And I gotta be honest with you, Alonso. Next time, don’t sneak
up on us like that. When you sneak up on people you give them the wrong idea.
And you don’t want to be giving folks the wrong idea. You’re not a scary guy.
You’re a nice guy. A nice guy with a big heart that you think no one can see.
But guess what?” And I looked at him straight on so he knew I was talking
truth. “I can. I know you’re a good man.
So be that good man. I know you can.”
And for a moment, no one said a thing, the air heavy with
anticipation.
“That’s right. I am,” he finally said, in a
voice that sounded a little bit shocked. “Thank you, Ms. Brynne. You have a
good night, now, ok?” And as he walked away, I’m sure I saw that puppy inside
him wag his tail something fierce.
* * *
What kind of world do you want to live in?
What kind of people do you want to be surrounded by?
What kinds of feelings do you want to have every day of your
life?
*If you want to live in a world filled with kindness, then
be kind.
*If you want to be surrounded by caring people, then be
caring.
*If you want to feel things in your heart every day of your
life, things that feel good, then listen to your heart, honor your heart, live
a heart-centered life.
If someone scares you, find a way to befriend them.
Look for the beauty.
Look for the kindness.
Look for the love.
For I promise you … the beauty and the kindness and the love
is always there. It lives in each one of us. In some it may be buried very
deeply. Maybe it’s lost behind walls of pain. But I promise you, with the right timing and a truly open heart, you will find it. If I can find it in
a probable ex-con who could have snapped me in two like a twig, you can find it
in anyone. Yep, even in that man on the playground who refuses to let his child
use the word love.:)
1 comment:
My dear Brynne, only someone with a heart as big as yours can see the beauty and kindness in anyone! We need to be more like you; emulate your actions! It's not easy opening up to strangers in the world we live in, but I believe we cannot allow fear to hold us hostage; to prevent us from being compassionate souls. Thanks to your kind words, that man walked away with pep in his step and his heart open to possibilities. You do have a way with people, my friend! Hugs from Roxy and me! :)
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