What a beautiful night! Not in ways I expected, more so in the beauty of the unexpected. I’m teaching Parkland’s Essential Workplace Skills to a group of students at Salt & Light. On my way there last night I see a man pushing a wheelchair across the street. He has mobility challenges, and it was taking a while. Then he fell. There were cars at three of the four corners. All the cars remained stopped and in a very quick moment one man ran out of his car to help the fallen man. Another passenger from a different car also went to him and steadied the wheelchair as the man lifted him up and placed him in the seat, then pushed him where he needed to go. It was a moment that brought me to tears and filled me with hope.
I realize that for all of us, where there’s a will there’s a way–to be kind and brave and participate in meaningful moments, to shift our assumptions, and to always hold on to hope.
Our class was talking about communicating effectively and the participants shared stories of listening to others with different experiences, opinions and beliefs and not passing judgement. These discussions involved differences in religion, politics, nationalities and lived experiences. They shared that when they listened with curiosity and to understand they learned something about the other person and that expanded them as a result.
I took this picture last week after watching this squirrel rest and recover before his next decision. He went on to shimmy his way to the bird feeder–where there’s a will there’s a way. I could have been upset but instead I was amused and impressed at his determination and agility. I realize that for all of us, where there’s a will there’s a way–to be kind and brave and participate in meaningful moments, to shift our assumptions, and to always hold on to hope.