About Me

My photo
My most recent single release - "My True North" - is now available on Bandcamp. Open my profile and click on "audio clip".

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Keeping Those Moccasins Handy

"We don't remember days, we remember moments" - Cesare Pavese

What moment have you experienced recently that you're confident will stay with you?

I've volunteered at Meals On Wheels on Monday mornings since November, 2010. The man who has delivered the supplies to our satellite location nearly every week always struck me as an unpleasant, unhappy individual. Both the woman I work alongside in the kitchen and I have tried to engage this driver in conversation on numerous occasions, only to be spoken to gruffly - or more often - ignored. Both of us had just about given up trying. 

Yesterday, this same man was glowing and - in the space of five minutes - said more to us than he had in the previous seven years. The bulk of his conversation was to rave about the new hearing aids that he'd recently had implanted.

My coaching to others about tolerance has often included that old saying  - "Try walking a mile in someone else's moccasins". After the teaching moment I experienced yesterday - one I'm sure will stay with me - I pray for the grace to recall those moccasins the next time I make a judgment about another "unpleasant, unhappy" individual. 

3 comments:

  1. Walk a mile in my shoes, Pat. Consider how you continue to offend. Merry Christmas!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Awesome post. Good reminder that we almost always don't know what is going on with someone and too often make assumptions. At least I do:)! Happy Holidays.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ines; Indeed, we all do make those assumptions; appreciate your feedback and I'm pleased you found value in the reminder. Happy holidays to you as well. See you in the new year!

      Delete