In 1998 I was attending a continuing legal education seminar in Indianapolis, and it was the first time I had been downtown since the new Center City Mall had opened, so I decided to go there for lunch.
After buying my meal in one of the food courts, I sat at a table. A few minutes later, I noticed a young couple, mid twenties, having lunch and talking.
Nothing unusual about that, except that he was in a wheel chair, and his arms were kind of withered and sometimes got in his way. His head bobbed around a bit. She was feeding him.
There was a disturbance as someone walked behind them. She turned around, and (unexpectedly for me) she had a deeply happy smile on her face.
That surprised me. I would not have been surprised to see a startled look, or a frown, or even anger at the intrusion. Never did I expect a smile. Such a peaceful smile.
Every time she happened to turn my way, she had that smile. Even when someone dropped a metal pot behind her.
I was struck by this. Here was a couple who could be facing years of struggle and pain, and medical and financial challenges, out for a day, having a good time. It was inspiring for me. I wanted to go up to them and say something about it, to give them a thumbs up sign, or something. But I was too timid. What a smile!
What is the point of this story? I cannot tell you. You need to find your own. Meaning and life and people may be interchangeable at the deepest level.
Maybe you’ll say that the meaning of the story is: Life is a mystery, people are a mystery, full of surprise; or, Happiness is everywhere, even where you least expect it; or, We can just be; or Hope exists in uncertainty.
It is possible to make a connection, even with someone very different from us. A close connection.
:- Doug.
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To which we must attend
