Next month my friend Shelly is turning 40.
She's going through a difficult time right now, separated from her wife, marginalized by her own parents, and feeling at times quite alone in the world. She's my best friend; I've known her for 20 years, more than half my lifetime. So I sent her a note and asked her if she wanted to get together next month to celebrate her birthday.
You would have thought from her reaction that I had just paid off her mortgage.
My friend Walks in the Rain, who I am sure will keep me from ever getting conceited or feeling special about myself, recently told me, "Congratulations, you're a decent human being. which makes you above average." It calls to mind the many times I have failed even these basic acts of decency, and how far below the standard I really am.
How can we stand to live like this, where a simple kindness is above average? How can we bear to look at ourselves in the mirror?
She's going through a difficult time right now, separated from her wife, marginalized by her own parents, and feeling at times quite alone in the world. She's my best friend; I've known her for 20 years, more than half my lifetime. So I sent her a note and asked her if she wanted to get together next month to celebrate her birthday.
You would have thought from her reaction that I had just paid off her mortgage.
How can we stand to live like this, where a simple kindness is above average? How can we bear to look at ourselves in the mirror?
If you'd like to pay off my mortgage...
ReplyDelete... well...
... I'm okay with that.
(and I bet Jesus would be impressed by it too.)
:)