Last week I was at DSW shoe store and noticed a tiny beautiful grey haired lady. We smiled as we passed each other and I had to turn around and watch her for a moment. Then as I was trying on a pair of shoes she startled me by giving her opinion of them. We struck up a conversation and I commented on her delightful accent. She was born and raised in England, but moved to Salt Lake in the 70's after joining the church. I wish I'd had a camera to capture "Ettie's" sweet face. This little woman in her eighties goes about doing good. After hearing of the divorces of some of the royal family in England, Ettie actually wrote a letter of encouragement to the Queen, telling her that under her difficult circumstances, Ettie believed she had been a good mother. The Queen of England graciously wrote back expressing appreciation for the encouragement. I could imagine gracious little Ettie being comfortable around the Queen and equally comfortable in the most humble shack. She made ME feel so wonderful, I walked out of that store feeling like a queen myself!
She reminded me of an old man I met in China in 2006 when Ron and I were privileged to visit Beijing and Xian on a company convention. We were in Beijing, rushing as a large group through Jingshan Park down a covered walkway, when I passed this old man riding slowly on a curious, oversized tricycle. He smiled up at me and I immediately felt wonder—I felt loved. I felt a safe, warm, electric connection and I wondered
who he was. I stopped to take his picture and then he held my hand and patted it and looked
into my soul with his wise old beautiful, light filled eyes! This all happened within moments and then Ron was there pulling me away—away from a timeless place, far removed from the bustle and noise—to rejoin our group before we became separated. I felt the glow for hours.
These rare and memorable encounters remind me of a quote from C.S. Lewis: "There are no ordinary people. You have never talked to a mere mortal. Nations, cultures, arts civilization—these are mortal, and their life is to ours as the life of a knit. But it is immortals with whom we joke with, work with, marry, snub, and exploit—immortal horrors or everlasting splendors . . . your neighbor is the holiest object presented to your senses. It is a serious thing to live in a society of possible gods and goddesses, to remember that the dullest and most uninteresting person you talk to may one day be a creature which, if you saw it now, you would be strongly tempted to worship . . . ~C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory, (1949)
These encounters also remind me of Alma 5:14: "And now behold, I ask of you my brethren of the church, have ye spiritually been born of God. Have ye received his image in your countenances? Have ye experienced this mighty change in your hearts?"
A few times in my life I have truly
seen "His" image!
That old question--is the glass half-empty or half-full? This year I want to see ALL the fullness in this beautiful world our Father in Heaven has provided. I want to see all the blessings in all the people in my life. I think it was Abraham Lincoln who said that if you look for the bad in someone you will surely find it. I think we find exactly what we look for in everything.
