On vacation a couple of years ago, while I was checking into our hotel, five-year-old Cade wandered over to the lounge area. I could see him talking to an older man sitting there.
If you had surveyed all of the men in Chicago, searching for the one who least wanted to be spoken to, this would be your guy. He was expressionless, slumped forward in his chair with his elbows resting on the table. He sort of reminded me of Garfield’s owner, only with gray hair. But Cade had struck up a conversation with him. From the front desk, I kept glancing over to check on the situation, and search the man’s face for any indication that Cade was bothering him. He remained expressionless.
When we got on the elevator, I asked, “Cade, what were you talking to that man about?” He said, “Well, he’s not on vacation. He’s just meeting a lady there, but the lady isn’t his wife. He’s not married to her anymore. He’s just going out for dinner with this new one, but his mom isn’t coming with them out for dinner because she’s already dead.”
Don’t you just love how kids can move in on territory (people and subjects!) that we adults shrink back from? I would have never considered conversing with this man; especially not regarding his life’s heartbreaks. To me, he would have registered as ‘unapproachable’. But not to Cade. And not to Jesus, either.
Give me your eyes for just one second
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
Give me your eyes so I can see
Everything that I keep missing
Give me your love for humanity
Give me your arms for the broken hearted
Ones that are far beyond my reach.
Give me your heart for the ones forgotten
Give me your eyes so I can see
(Brandon Heath-‘Give me Your Eyes’)
repost from 4-09