Journal of Sacred Work

"Feeling particularly cranky because of the unbearable heat and humidity, I was ready to pick a fight with anybody I encountered on my walk to a drugstore on the Upper West Side. So I was ready to put my mental fighting gloves on as I approached a building superintendent who was blasting the sidewalk ahead of me with a hose. Angry thoughts whirled through my head: Why do they have to do this in the middle of the day rather than early in the morning when there is less foot traffic? If I had an expensive pair of shoes on, they would get ruined. (I didn’t, but still …)

Just as I was thinking the super hadn’t noticed me and wasn’t going to bother turning off the hose so I could pass, he abruptly shut the water off and,with a broad smile, bowed deeply. “See,” he said with his arms outstretched, “I made the sidewalk beautiful just for you!”
~ Cathy Bernard

Didyou ever have a day like this, where you are just feeling cross and unduly cranky? I guess we all have at one time or another. I just love the twist  and surprise of this stroy. Did it bring a smile to your face? It did mine! What a delightful man! Reflecting on how I might respond, I'd like to imagine that I would run up to him, throw my arms around him and give him a big hug! Walking on with a big smile and a desire to brighten someone else's day. We all thrive on moments like this one that shake us from our the story that is swirling around in our head. And then we are awakened to the goodness and beauty that is all around us, if we are open to receive the blessing.

Fred Rogers offers this insight, "At the center of the Universe is a loving heart that continues to beat and that wants the best for every person. Anything that we can do to help foster the intellect and spirit and emotional growth of our fellow human beings, that is our job. Those of us who have this particular vision must continue against all odds. Life is for service."

Shared by Liz Sorensen Wessel
Artwork by ~liz