little moments

i just got back from a fabulous weekend away.  away at my old home.  away in northern california. away with old and new friends.  there was great food and wine, time to read, time to be quiet, to hike and for connection and laughter. lots of little moments.  i am refreshed.  i am reminded of how good it all really is.  i am thankful!


on the plane, i watched The Blind Side.  it's about a boy from the projects who ends up at a private christian school, and is taken in by a wealthy family, where he thrives and ends up a famous football player.  its about good coming out of bad.  it's about potential being reached, and about transformation for many.  it reminded me of Temple Grandin, a movie about an autistic woman who succeeds in graduating from college and grad school and is now teaching at a university.  she was able to use her "skills" and strengths from autism to help her understand animal behavior.  when you break down any story or life, it is the little things that happen that are life changing.  it's the mechanic who lets Big Mike sleep at his house and then asks the private school to take him-  it's the little boy who smiles at him on the playground when no one else will talk to him.  these were the seeds that got him where he was- not just the woman who ultimately took him in.  temple grandin's science teacher- and college roommate, not just her mother.  and this gives me so much hope.

there are so many moments in our lives, in our days when we have a chance to make the right decision, to advocate for a voiceless someone, to pause and be present.  and these little moments add up to our lives- these little pieces can collectively change worlds.

like the man on the plane next to me, who prayed for zoe before take off - although all he knew was that she struggled with vague learning issues and that i homeschooled her- he took hands with me and with the poor guy between us - a 20-something guy from the bay area- and lifted her up to God- and asked for healing and specifically for her focus and her fine motor skills.  i'd never said a word about focus and fine motor skills, but those are her biggest challenges. it's those little moments. they do matter.

when zoe was about three years old- and lacked appropriate stranger anxiety- we took her to a cafe to hear some music.  there was an older woman- who, if anything, should have looked scary to a child.  not well put together- very eccentric, and kind of odd.  she was not the kind of person that you'd not want to pick up your child.  but zoe, who seems to see the beauty in people when others don't, went up to her and spoke with her, sat on the couch with her- fully engaged her.  i remember feeling a little uncomfortable, and yet so thankful for her ability to see through all that.  the woman was so touched- so thankful- she had tears in her eyes-this little girl had brought back her humanity.  this is where zoe is most special- she gets those little moments- who knows if  it was life changing for this woman, but it was for me.