Bearing Witness

This morning my wife called to talk about how things were going in her morning.  This morning, unlike most others offered her a chance to breathe, to see, to experience, and to reflect.  She had our baby boy with her which is an abnormally light load.  This afforded her the chance to look around and see life, to see energy, and see the people about her.  Normally our view of the world extends only to the back row of the car, or the cars in the lanes next to us, or the approaching stop light.  Life can be very busy when there is so much to do, and so little time in which to do it.

What was remarkable to me about the story she told me was that all around her she was able to bear witness to the happenings of others.  In that she was able to see the spirit of life in many forms, which I think can be rather awe inspiring.  From seeing the boy get off the bus, light his cigarette, and find the direction he wanted to go, then the guys driving by him staring him down.  Things happen all around us, all the time.

Often for me these things happen and I don’t pay them a second thought.  Which ultimately is a real shame; people’s lives are unfolding all the time around us, and if you’re like me you are only worried about what is happening in yours.

As she told me the stories of her morning, I couldn’t help but tell her that if I were to see those things I’d be inspired to write something about them.  In a way I already was, she saw through her eyes and in telling the stories to me, I was moved to write about them.

I find it remarkable the power that is created when we open ourselves to be impacted by others.  For me that is where the good comes from.

Through the experiences of my wife this morning I was reminded just how awesome it can be to be affected by others.  When we take the time to bear witness to the reality of others it can only serve to enrich our perspective.

What was even better than hearing her tell me the stories, was the sound of her voice while she was telling me them.  Her voice had a lightness that could carry me away while she told me about what she’d seen.  I love it when she sounds like that.