Day 3: Thirty Days of Gratitude

My husband and I had a fascinating experience today while sitting and waiting for our boys and their friends at the local tramopoline center.  I don’t normally bring my computer with me when I go “out” but knew I’d be sitting there for two hours and wanted to look at flights and such for our next vacation.

While we were looking at one of the flight options, a gentleman who we came to know as  Victor, (who also had his laptop with him while waiting for his son and friends) asked us if we minded if he played music as he didn’t want to disturb us.

We didn’t mind at all.

What happened next, I can’t really put into words.  We had the most lovely, inspiring, warm, friendly conversation with a complete stranger for the better part of the hour.  Most people, and normally, I would probably include myself in the category of “most people” don’t want to strike up conversations with strangers, but today, Victor, asked about the trip we were thinking about, and the conversation took off running from there. 

I was sitting in awe of our most intimate conversation between the three of us.  Intimate in a real, connect to another human being way.  It was quite beautiful actually. 

I was surprised by his candidness, but then again I wasn’t, and we both appreciated his honest connection and discussions and know will remember this hour many days, weeks, months from now.

There are times in our lives when we are blessed with glimpses into the world and how it might be if we were open to hearing another person’s heart. Heaven on earth is this way. I know it is. 

We are compassionate for others, we have empathy, we share laughter, we are truly who we are meant to be with a total stranger and we are better for it at the end of the time spent together.  He told stories of his one true love, his son, his work, his family, the culture he grew up in, his business ideas, travel, food, beach sand, art and the list goes on.

We introduced our children to each other, shook hands and left the trampoline center.  Perhaps our paths will cross again, perhaps they won’t.  What I do know, is that I am grateful for being open-minded enough that a complete stranger can place an imprint upon my day and am better off from the experience than had I sat there in the quiet.

Simply a beautiful experience today. Simply lovely.

heaven on earth