“I believe that this way of living, this focus on the present, the daily, the tangible, this intense concentration not on the news headlines but on the flowers growing in your own garden, the children growing in your own home, this way of living has the potential to open up the heavens, to yield a glittering handful of diamonds where a second ago there was coal. This way of living and noticing and building and crafting can crack through the movie sets and soundtracks that keep us waiting for our own life stories to begin, and set us free to observe the lives we have been creating all along without even realizing it.” -Shauna Niequist
I have been struggling over the last couple of months with many social media posts. Typically I can keep scrolling past the ones that cause a little bit of allergic reaction. But all too often it has felt that I have been immersed in posts that are, for good and bad, creating my skin to crawl. I'll be very honest. The posts of save the lives of black men. Save the lives of police officers. This is difficult for me. Do I have to choose? I have some very dear friends who are black men. Yes, I want them saved. I have a nephew who is a boarder patrol officer. Do I want his life saved? Most certainly. He is a fine, upstanding, respectful man who serves his country. I cannot pick a side.
I sat back and inspected why. Why was this irritating me? When it all came into focus the beauty was amazing. I have a vast kaleidoscope of friends. I have been truly blessed. Races, age range, cultures, political views, education, sexual orientation, religious beliefs. I value each friendship for what they have brought to my life as an individual. But what I found was the mixture could be a bit toxic.
I have always been the bleeding heart. Save the children. Feed the World. Kumbaya singing kind of gal. Realistically? I do know that unless my name is Oprah or Angelina the possibility of me saving a village is slim. But, I do know that I can focus on the flowers in my garden, the children in my home or city or state, the friends in need right now with an immediate need of daily prayer. By small ways, small tasks, intimate interactions I can scatter glitter around my world.
Recently a friend had an uncomfortable interaction with a customer service agent via telephone. Overhearing her conversation was just as uncomfortable. She was treated....let's say...guilty no matter what. Later in the day she called another customer service agent regarding the same issue and was provided empathy and a listening ear. At the end of the day this friend made an appointment to give blood through The Red Cross. She felt that it was one small way to set the world back into balance.
As we move into the new year I pray that you, my incredibly beautiful diverse friend, will join me and find your own way to set your corner of the world back into balance. How will you scatter the handful of glitter?
