Seeing the world in my neighbor
This morning I had breakfast with an alum who is in grad school. He loves his studies but is also weary of political news. He is a gifted artist so I encouraged him to allow himself to see the local. Attend to the person in front of him, care for his neighbor, delight in what is nearby, and allow that delight to turn into gratitude and loving kindness. The small decisions can make a world of difference. In a way, the whole world is present in that one person, and love is not wasted on them, even if it might seem a squandering of effort to those who wish only to make big changes in the world. I came home and added a small scene to my sketchbook, choosing to attend to this small winter scene in my driveway. As I clear the snow from the sidewalk, I clear it for I know not who will walk there next. They are also worth loving.
