an open space

June 24

grow, grow where you are...
Though I have many, my new main man these days is Sean, a 3-year-old boy with Cerebral Palsy. Today was my first day working at a summer preschool program for kids with special needs, and I have been assigned to work one on one with Sean. I remember watching a video at my work orientation on how to properly care for children of all ages and sizes with special needs, seeing children with all levels of disabilities, wondering what was in their hearts, their minds; thinking, at the time, how devastating it would be to have a child who suffered from a major physical or mental disability. But today, I looked at these children, and they were beautiful. Nothing was sad or inhibited about them. And as unappealing as this might sound to my future or potential "mate" (and the fact that I say it like that): I have baby fever. Their sincerity inspires me daily.

I had a good weekend. Almost sunk a kayak.
(There is a reason why only one person should ride on a single at a time.)
Caught up with an old friend. Slept out underneath the stars.

I learned a small lesson, the complexity and goodness of each person, and that maybe it's unwise to mark on everyone as if they were paper (that's from Chris). I've often complained my boss at the restaurant is a bit of a bigot. Preaching unmercilessly to a Hindu woman who came by for a chile relleno and an ill-natured argument. She ended up coming again later, leaving him a copy of Upanisads. He flipped through the first chapter, pointing at random words, saying, "See, 'brahmans'? What is this crap?" Yet I made a small mention this past Sabbath about doing a presentation for church about my mission experience in Cambodia, and he usually goes to church 15 miles south with his family, but when I stepped onto the stage, I saw him sitting alone in the back side-wing pew. And I smiled inside, knowing he came just to support me. People are who they are, do what they do, but their is good in everyone. That's what I choose to believe.