One of my nephews favorite place to go is Piedmont park (or any park really).
Not just for the various playground options, but just to wander and wonder.
He picks up leaves and looks at the patterns; he can spy the most unnoticed beauties of creation.
He has an eye for the hidden treasures of this world.
This past week, I took him and his brother out hoping they would run and use up some energy (and selfishly that I would get a breath of fresh air and give my mind some rest from a very stressful week).
But naturally, this mind doesn't rest.
We did our regular routine of playground, baseball (with stick and acorns), the other playground, tree climbing, and finally a visit with the ducks.
As we crossed the bridge and made our way onto the gazebo that sits on the water, the boys eagerly leaned over to awe at the ducks, as if they hadn't seen them 7,429 times before.
We sat on the gazebo wall, wishing we had some bread crumbs to share with our friends.
Out of a quick silence, my dear observant nephew, in the sweetest tone, softly said, "Look at how different they all are! That one is a brown duck, that one is a white duck, that one has green feathers, that one has grey and white feathers! That one has a mohawk! And that one is a geese! And they are all friends and have a home together!"
That was all it took.
A four year old boy sees the differences and he doesn't ignore them, rather, he delights in them.
He points them out and the beauty of the individuality that each was created with.
He doesn't shame the one with the feathers sticking straight up, or the one that's smaller, or the plain white one that doesn't have as elaborate colors- he celebrates them all exactly how they were created.
And what an exquisite mosaic they make as they flow through the water, regarding one another and sharing their home.
You know my exact thoughts in this moment. They are the same thoughts you are having now.
We are an exquisite mosaic, different in shape and color, but spectacular in our individual creation.
How are we failing to see this bigger picture?
I wish there was a gazebo in the clouds that we could look down from and see the intricate designs that weave the tapestry of humanity. I wish we could see through the eyes of a child, just how simple it could be to deliberately choose to flow through this world, regarding one another as equally necessary and purposed as ourselves. I wish we could see difference and choose to see it as beautiful, not intimidating.
Love is a choice. It doesn't come naturally, that is what makes it all the more powerful- when we choose to love when we have every reason not to.
But is there ever a truly good enough reason not to love?
Not just for the various playground options, but just to wander and wonder.
He picks up leaves and looks at the patterns; he can spy the most unnoticed beauties of creation.
He has an eye for the hidden treasures of this world.
This past week, I took him and his brother out hoping they would run and use up some energy (and selfishly that I would get a breath of fresh air and give my mind some rest from a very stressful week).
But naturally, this mind doesn't rest.
We did our regular routine of playground, baseball (with stick and acorns), the other playground, tree climbing, and finally a visit with the ducks.
As we crossed the bridge and made our way onto the gazebo that sits on the water, the boys eagerly leaned over to awe at the ducks, as if they hadn't seen them 7,429 times before.
We sat on the gazebo wall, wishing we had some bread crumbs to share with our friends.
Out of a quick silence, my dear observant nephew, in the sweetest tone, softly said, "Look at how different they all are! That one is a brown duck, that one is a white duck, that one has green feathers, that one has grey and white feathers! That one has a mohawk! And that one is a geese! And they are all friends and have a home together!"
That was all it took.
A four year old boy sees the differences and he doesn't ignore them, rather, he delights in them.
He points them out and the beauty of the individuality that each was created with.
He doesn't shame the one with the feathers sticking straight up, or the one that's smaller, or the plain white one that doesn't have as elaborate colors- he celebrates them all exactly how they were created.
And what an exquisite mosaic they make as they flow through the water, regarding one another and sharing their home.
You know my exact thoughts in this moment. They are the same thoughts you are having now.
We are an exquisite mosaic, different in shape and color, but spectacular in our individual creation.
How are we failing to see this bigger picture?
I wish there was a gazebo in the clouds that we could look down from and see the intricate designs that weave the tapestry of humanity. I wish we could see through the eyes of a child, just how simple it could be to deliberately choose to flow through this world, regarding one another as equally necessary and purposed as ourselves. I wish we could see difference and choose to see it as beautiful, not intimidating.
Love is a choice. It doesn't come naturally, that is what makes it all the more powerful- when we choose to love when we have every reason not to.
But is there ever a truly good enough reason not to love?
