Periphery

This morning I sat in coffee shop, reviewing notes from my professor and aligning my week for structure and success.  I have a unique ability to channel sound to a background noise and focus on the task in front of me. I read on the elliptical machine at the gym.  I can work at coffee shops with blaring discussions and vibe music roaring. 

I wouldn’t call this multi tasking.  I was say it’s a gift.  It’s a practiced skill.  Some people can’t concentrate at all.  Let alone in the chaos of distraction.

As long as my eyes can fixate on one thing, my brain can focus. 

But the drama and chaos is always there in the background.  As I was pondering the beauty of my imagined week, I overheard a conversation of two gentlemen next to me.  It inspired me to write this post.

The men were supposed to meet for coffee.  One of their persons was unable to come.  The first man says to the other, he can only stay 30 minutes because he has to take his sick wife to chemo. He graphically and optimistically describes the improvement of her condition.  The other man, must have made a silent visceral reaction because the first man noted that it was gruesome and intimate information.

Every time I hear of suffering, I say a prayer.  Jesus be with this man and his family. Bless them through this difficult time is what I prayed.  Thank you for your mercy and your grace in my life.

Although the man only had 30 minutes to share with his friends, be showed up, and shared.  Even in his difficult timing, he has prioritized having the support of a compassionate ear.

This month is women’s history month.  Irony, I have more lunch appointments than I’ve had in 3 years with friends and colleagues.  All just to say, I love you, how are you, what’s new? Nothing will exchange looking people in the eyes, and listening.  Nothing can replace it.

Last week, I went to lunch with a new friend.  Lunch turned into 3 hours of dialogue about the depth of our emotional fragility at this intersection of our respective lives, and how we share this in common.

As I sat there listening, and sharing, even over sharing, I could feel how much I needed to process my thoughts.  I recognized this same need in my friend. I am all for clinical therapy.  I believe in it.  However, nothing replaces the ability to share with an uninterested person that has concern for you.

As I sat here, I immediately recognized the context of this need.  These men find support and safety in each other.  It doesn’t matter how many other random strangers are listening to their conversations.  They are safe with one another.  Besides, what are the chances I’ll ever run into any of them again.  I do the same thing, in public places with perfect strangers listening, I have shared my soul with a select few trusted humans.

 

We think we have problems.  We think, aint it awful!  The reality is that people are truly suffering all around us.  If only we listen to what is happening in the chaos surrounding us.  If only we occasionally catch the persons in our periphery, we will realize suffering, and know we are beyond blessed.

Abundance Always

#lifeofbliss #periphery #strangerslisten #confessions #friends #womenshistory