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On A Personal Note:
Wow, it seems like just yesterday that Jude and I stepped off that airliner in Charlotte, NC to end our vacation...yet, it seems like at least one lifetime has passed since then. That is what happens when life gets in the way of relaxation, don't you know.
The week after setting foot back on solid southern soil, we found ourselves attending two, yes two, of our grands' graduations from high school. We also had numerous orders to fill, and gosh, even an alpaca herd numbering ninety demanding attention. Can you imagine?
Well, it is a good thing we had a supply of good ol' Alpaca Bean Coffee standing at the ready! But that is a given, what was not a given was the impact of the past month's events and a quiet, but noteworthy speech made by a grad during our grandson's grad ceremony. Yep, two graduations in three days led me to begin looking at what really matters ...then two deaths relating to two close friends made those investigations more meaningful than before.
You see, as we sat swelling with pride watching first, our beautiful granddaughter, then our handsome grandson, walk across the stages that marked the beginning of the beginning for their individual lives, we heard four young bright stars share their thoughts with their classmates, parents, grandparents, and friends.
Three young people stood before their universe and spoke with witty, polished, and paced words. They demonstrated that they had gained knowledge and they were eager to demonstrate that knowledge to those that would listen. It was very evident that their speeches had met the approval of their life coaches within their schools...but, it was also clear that their words were put together in an environment that was safe and secure, and promised that what they had to say would bounce off the ear drums of those in attendance and quickly disappear.
The fourth young person tackled a topic that came straight from her heart and her mind. You see this young person spoke with courage about her grandmother and the influence of her grandmother's faith, not only on her life, but on the lives of all her grandmother came in contact with each day. This young lady, though her speech was not polished, was able to stir feelings and reaction from all in attendance. I must admit some of the reactions I overheard were not favorable...but they were the only reactions of substance I had heard as a result of any of the speeches, and that spoke to me. She alone was able to stir the soul of those present at either ceremony.
You see, she spoke directly to me in a very personal way...she awoke a part of me that was trying to slowly drift into slumber. You see she in some ways, was saying that ease of disbelief, of doing nothing, rather than taking steps to help others has to step aside and faith needs to take its place. Faith that will at least attempt to make this world a better place, as her grandmother had done. A faith that puts us in a frame of mind that supports, rather than demeans someone that is sharing their thoughts, ideas, dreams and hopes.
A faith that has us look to see what is the best route to take...waiting for someone else to step out in faith or taking that step yourself?
I really wish our current elected officials could have heard this young lady and had taken the time to listen to her heart. Often, any and all of us tend to wait...and then attack. Yes, maybe that is what has our country held hostage...maybe our elected officials simply wait so they can attack and discredit, maybe this country, our country, needs to step out in faith, to move mountains, not simply be satisfied with building molehills that we then make out to be unclimbable mountains.
That reminds me, I recently read again the following thought...
"When molehills become mountains you think you cannot climb, remember Mount Everest was conquered one step at a time."
Now THAT is faith! Just like I have faith in you, in a quality coffee like The Alpaca Bean, and in a tremendous love I share with a special lady of my age! But let me tell you, behind ALL is our FAITH, just like the faith of that special grandmother we heard of in a courageous speech...not polished, but true.
I've said this before, but it still holds true...I wish we could all sit down together, maybe in our living rooms. Share a time together, drink some delicious coffee, nibble on some melt in your mouth pastries, and listen to each of our dreams for our country, our communities, and our families. Take care, thank you for allowing me to take up space on your computer each month, and may you and your family be blessed beyond belief!
Peace,
The Coffeeman
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