Don't Blink!

I was going through my old writings, and I came across a short piece I had written one day after going to the 'Center for Spiritual Awareness': http://centreforspirit.com/

I really wanted to share it, as it still gives me goosebumps!

~~~
April 13, 2009

It was Easter Sunday, and I was at the Center for Spiritual Awareness that morning. The music was playing, the whole of the community was dancing and singing and clapping along.

I was half paying attention to the choir up front, as I was beginning to realize that I had sweat dripping down my back from chasing after my son.

“He’s quite the handful, isn’t he?”, an elderly gentleman commented from the back pew. I had a slight realization that he had been amusing himself with my little chase the baby game for quite some time.

My son, who is all of thirteen months old, waddled over to him and motioned to be picked up. I was a little surprised by this as he is usually kind enough to smile at strangers, but never before has he asked for one to pick him up!

The elderly man did as my son was asking, and he just held him on his lap. I noticed my son taking the man in, as though he were looking deeply into his soul. The older man smiled back, in the most kindly and gentlest of ways. “He’s a really beautiful boy ma‘am’.” he grinned at me.

I nodded enthusiastically and returned the smile, “I think so too!” The elder man grinned even bigger, “Yup, you definitely done good! He He He”. We were both giggling by this point and my son even joined in the merriment.

Then I noticed that the man had tears in his eyes, and his lip started to quiver a little. He the leaned over and looked me straight in the eye and said, “Promise me one thing! Please, promise me you won’t Blink”.

I leaned back from him for a moment, taking in what he was asking me.

The man let a tear roll out of the corner of his eye, he smiled again and said, “Because if you Blink, before you know it your son will be twenty and moving out of the house.”

We looked at each other for a long moment, and I felt my heart squeeze with compassion for this man. This loving man who had seen many many years of life, I wondered at the joys he felt, and the memories he held at people who have passed.

I felt my heart open like a huge flower, I smiled back at him and with humility and gratitude I bowed and said, ‘Thank-you’.

I watched my son clamber off of the man’s knee, and I took a moment to reflect at just how true his statement was. We are all here for just but a moment. And I am so grateful that today my eyes are ‘Wide-Open’.

The service ended, and as others were making there way out of the building, I was left with this strong feeling that someday I will be the one sitting in the back row of the Center, telling another Mommy to not blink.

Life is so precious.

Thank-you Tom. See you another Sunday soon!
~~~