A few weeks ago I was sitting in the airport waiting to board a plane to New Hampshire to attend my niece's wedding. I sat casually observing the hubub of travelers as an elderly couple approached and eased themselves into the row of seats beside me. I watched as the old man leaned past his wife toward a man sporting a Boston Red Sox cap and causally remarked, "How about those Sox?" The other man said nothing. He completely ignored this offer of camaraderie and left the elderly gentleman to simply lean back and contemplate the back of his hands.
I felt so bad for the old fellow. I wondered if he felt snubbed. My mind raced into stories about the snobby man hiding behind his newspaper, so smug that he wouldn't even give an old man a few seconds of his time. My heart felt so sad for the old man who I considered to be at least 88. He was vigorous once! People used to listen to him once! Or so I imagined.
We began to be called to board the plane and I glanced up as the snobby man gathered his belongings to start toward the check-in.
Oops... humbled again!
Suddenly I saw something that I did not notice before. The man was wearing two big hearing aids. He had not heard the old man and his offer of support for the Red Sox over the din of announcements and bad acoustics. He had not heard a sound. As he stood he nodded toward the elderly couple and smiled sweetly.
Sometimes even what we think we see with our own two eyes is not the reality of a situation. Next time I am jumping to conclusions I promise to give myself an opportunity to observe life through a kinder, less judgmental lens so that I may develop the ability to truly wait in order to really see.
I release myself from the need to interpret my world from the vantage point of its lack and failings. I embrace a new vision of life which is generous, loving and focused on the good.
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