 Last
week Richard and I were speaking at a school in Pontiac, Michigan.
When we arrived the custodian helped us bring in our equipment to
the auditorium. As we were setting up our props and backdrops we
introduced ourselves to one another.
I told him
I was from Guangzhou, China and I lived next to Larry, Curly and
Moe but he didn't laugh. I guess he thought it was a dumb joke.
Then he informed us that he was born and raised in Tennessee. "Grew
up in a family of eleven children."
He chuckled
when he said, "we were poor, really poor, but we were happy."
He stared at me for a few moments and I thought I might have something
weird on my beak. But instead he said: "I didn't know what
hate was! Where I came from everyone loved everyone, if you needed
help it didn't matter who you were, what color of your skin was
or if you stunk like a dead cat (I added the stunk like a dead cat
part), you would get help."
I asked him
why he left and he said, "mama loved us so much she told us
to go and grow. I told him my mother loved me too and I still hear
her loving words "GET OUT AND STAY OUT!"
He said his
brothers and sisters moved out in search of "prosperity."
I told him when mother kicked us out; we were in search of anything
edible to eat.
The reason I share this story with you is because in talking with
our newfound friend, Richard and I realize that we all seem to look
back and have a clear view of our past. Looking back we think how
wonderful it was but unfortunately when we were living through those
so-called good times the tenderness was lost in the responsibility
of every day life.
I see so many
parents, Richard included, caught up in the hectic day-to-day all
complaining about lack of time and how crazy their schedules have
become. Not realizing that someday they will look back on these
precious moments.
Embrace what you have and how you are living now. It's OK to look
back and implement the good of the past but you should not turn
your back on what lies ahead.
My custodian
friend may not know it consciously, but subconsciously he is implementing
what he learned in Tennessee. His past experiences are the bricks
and mortar of what he is now and what he will become.
He still is
loving and caring.
He still is willing to help those in need.
He helped me when I was locked in the bathroom but that is another
story.
Also when he said "he never knew what hate was," he may
now know the word but he doesn't act out its meaning.
This week
use the foundation of your past to build on your future by living
your life in the present.
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