On June 15, I celebrated 13 years of service to the Riverside Church. I invited several staff members to enjoy champagne, strawberries, and exchange funny stories with me--and I can't tell you how wonderful the day felt.
Let us endeavor to celebrate ourselves and each other whenever possible, as our time here is precious and so very short.
Each of us harbors a deep desire to at some moment in time feel significant, and today, I did.
I can't tell you what the future holds for me, but I face it with a very simple, YES.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Thank You For Making Room For ME!!
I am always amazed when someone says thank you ---- not to insinuate that I am surrounded by boorish ingrates on a daily basis---but every now and then someone says thank you, and I am changed.
I take the Metro North Commuter Railroad to work each day, and I never cease to be surprised at the level of insensitivity, and outright incivility that people freely exhibit to one another during this hour-plus ride. Now for those that are not aware, Metro North is indeed a comfortable ride, and a rather expensive one. Consequently, one can expect certain niceties that do not exist on the regular subway. On Metro North you can drink alcohol openly; bring your dog (without a carrier), and enjoy the expectation of a fairly quiet ride---at least during peak hours on weekdays. One notable exception is St. Patrick’s Day, which creates an entirely different set of etiquette challenges that I will address at another time.
The one missing courtesy on the Metro North is the simple human decency in removing your belongings from the seat next to you, so that fellow commuters may sit down. Tired, bewildered riders are often left pacing the aisle seeking a friendly face that is willing to move their items to the overhead luggage rack. The impolite and etiquette challenged then pretend to be engrossed in the newspaper; feign sleep, overemphasize involvement in whatever is playing on their IPod’s, or simply ignore their fellow riders when it comes to sharing the real estate next to them.
One day recently, during my commute home, the train became a bit crowded at the station we pulled into, and the dance began---those looking for common courtesy being taunted by seats filled with briefcases, laptops, books, and pizza boxes. A visibly tired man, a man who worked in construction perhaps, walked down the aisle and finally stopped at the seat next to me, which I was in the process of quickly clearing and making available. He sat, thanked me, and we never spoke again for 40 minutes.
When we pulled into his station, he gathered his things, and before leaving he turned to me smiling and said “Miss, thank you for making room for me.” I sat there for the remainder of my ride astonished and sitting quite a bit taller. The small courtesy I extended had evoked a response so warm that it stayed with me for days---in fact, I smile every time I think about it. I now make sure the seat is cleared off next to me for every ride.
So in the days ahead, take a moment to make room for someone---on the bus, on the check-out line, in the parking lot. Yield the right of way in a conflict---You'll not only receive a smile, but you will be responsible for changing the atmosphere in your little corner of the world. Consider the ways the universe has made room for you---and live into that gratitude whenever you encounter someone less fortunate.
Make room for a weary traveler---knowing with absolute certainty, that one day, most assuredly, the weary traveler will be you.
I take the Metro North Commuter Railroad to work each day, and I never cease to be surprised at the level of insensitivity, and outright incivility that people freely exhibit to one another during this hour-plus ride. Now for those that are not aware, Metro North is indeed a comfortable ride, and a rather expensive one. Consequently, one can expect certain niceties that do not exist on the regular subway. On Metro North you can drink alcohol openly; bring your dog (without a carrier), and enjoy the expectation of a fairly quiet ride---at least during peak hours on weekdays. One notable exception is St. Patrick’s Day, which creates an entirely different set of etiquette challenges that I will address at another time.
The one missing courtesy on the Metro North is the simple human decency in removing your belongings from the seat next to you, so that fellow commuters may sit down. Tired, bewildered riders are often left pacing the aisle seeking a friendly face that is willing to move their items to the overhead luggage rack. The impolite and etiquette challenged then pretend to be engrossed in the newspaper; feign sleep, overemphasize involvement in whatever is playing on their IPod’s, or simply ignore their fellow riders when it comes to sharing the real estate next to them.
One day recently, during my commute home, the train became a bit crowded at the station we pulled into, and the dance began---those looking for common courtesy being taunted by seats filled with briefcases, laptops, books, and pizza boxes. A visibly tired man, a man who worked in construction perhaps, walked down the aisle and finally stopped at the seat next to me, which I was in the process of quickly clearing and making available. He sat, thanked me, and we never spoke again for 40 minutes.
When we pulled into his station, he gathered his things, and before leaving he turned to me smiling and said “Miss, thank you for making room for me.” I sat there for the remainder of my ride astonished and sitting quite a bit taller. The small courtesy I extended had evoked a response so warm that it stayed with me for days---in fact, I smile every time I think about it. I now make sure the seat is cleared off next to me for every ride.
So in the days ahead, take a moment to make room for someone---on the bus, on the check-out line, in the parking lot. Yield the right of way in a conflict---You'll not only receive a smile, but you will be responsible for changing the atmosphere in your little corner of the world. Consider the ways the universe has made room for you---and live into that gratitude whenever you encounter someone less fortunate.
Make room for a weary traveler---knowing with absolute certainty, that one day, most assuredly, the weary traveler will be you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Stay Tuned...New Posts in March 2011
Have been away a bit---but fear not!
My Blog is currently being copyrighted---and will be back soon.
My Blog is currently being copyrighted---and will be back soon.
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