-Ghandhi
Lenten Reflections #37
Stepping out of the last car at carpool with very little motivation to exit the warm, cozy SUV was a sweet Pre-K student with shiny jet-black hair and eyes. He gave his Dad a slight glance as he walked away, partially annoyed (in a 4-year-old kind of way) that Dad had to leave…and he had to stay. So I grabbed my cold coffee and told him I’d walk in with him, chatting in Spanish as we walked. His already slow pace geared down and waited as I caught up.
As we walked through the school entrance, we each chose a sectioned-lane lane headed toward three thermometers. After eight months of the same routine, he stood on his tip-toes, forehead aimed toward the freestanding thermometer the school nurse lowers for the little ones each day. I held my wrist up to the device in my line and we both heard the same “not yet” beep and saw the big, read letters “Lo”. Instinctively we both waited about five seconds and tried again. “Normal temperature” the thermometer voices declared. One small success under our belts for the day.
The moment reminded me of Navy Seal, Admiral McCravey’s Commencent Speech and famous line, “If you want to change the world, start off by making your bed.”
We started out our day with the correct temperature reading. Made bed or not, it’s a win to start a school day in 2021.
We walked in silence through the gym (shout out to Walt Whitman) and as we entered the hallway he conquered the quiet and mumbled, “fifth grade and sixth grade”. We were in the upper grade hallways and he was very interested in the big kids filing through those hallways.
As we made our way down the stairs, we talked about all the grades. He continued saying the words as slowly as he stepped, “kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th.”
“Then what?” I asked.
“Then we go to MEDIUM SCHOOL.”
“Next?” I asked.
“Then big school.”
“Then what? I probed.”
“Then I’ll get to drive the car.”
“Next?” I asked.
“Then I’ll have my own babies.”
Curious, I continued, “Then what?”
“Then I’ll die.”
Just like that, a four-year-old put the back-of-the-book definition of life into a few sentences and it felt strangely safe, simple and calm.
It’s easy to get caught up in between the lines and fill them with stress and fear. Instead, let’s embrace the moments, keep them simple, serve others and as Ghandhi said,
“Live simply so others may simply live.”
-Ghandhi
On Faith and Fitness:
Walk briskly for 30 minutes. Good Friday will be dawning soon. Take care and be grateful.
Thanks for reading.
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