People Watching

I’m sitting at Atlanta Bread Company as we speak.  One thing that I really enjoy doing is people watching.  Especially at a busy place like this.

I put on Jack Johnson, (Who ironically has a song called, “People Watching”.  I listen to music, browse the web, and watch.

I watch the group of people to my left playing with a new born baby.  Celebrating new life.  Wondering what is this little boy going to be like.  Will he like reading, or will he like being outdoors.

The family to my right who looks like they just got done with some sort of ball game.  I wonder if they won.  I wonder if they lost, and if they did, how did that teach that girl to take it so well?  It’s fascinating.

Then I get a phone call.  A phone call from a friend, who is calling to tell me that his dad isn’t doing too well.  They have him on more medication, and the medicine isn’t helping as much.

We share some personal stories, I offer a prayer.  I’m crying.  Not so he can hear me, because he’d probably think I was a sissy…. I look at the family celebrating new life, and it has a whole new perspective, five minutes ago, I didn’t have that phone call, five minutes ago, all was well.  Five minutes ago, the meaning of life wasn’t as precious to me as it is at this moment.  The family to the right has left, they eat fast.

I start to think about myself, the one person  who I don’t like watching.   And I am getting overwhelmed at how awesome His love is.  I don’t deserve it.  In fact, I deserve the opposite.  In this moment, for whatever reason, it’s hitting me hard.  So hard I can’t begin to explain it.

I do want to say, hug your family.  Tell them you love them.  Tell them you forgive them.  Do it.  This moment could change.  In less than a second, your whole world, your whole perspective could be turned upside down.