Unfinished

“The purpose of human life is to serve, and to show compassion and the will to help others.” – Albert Schweitzer

Another email with a last minute request late in the day after a long week. Redoing work that wasn’t done right in the first place. Road construction that blocks every possible route. Someone talking when busy checking email for more unreasonable requests. Unending meetings. Frustrations, interruptions, irritations, unmet expectations, disappointments. All blocking us from where we “need” to be. But where is that exactly?

When we use our heart instead of our head, we soon discover that we are all unfinished. We aren’t meant to be complete with all of the pieces fitting together perfectly. That’s our journey – to become complete, to accept help and to help others along the way. To teach, to learn, to grow, to do it over and over again, with compassion and kindness. To engage in each others lives, not to check off our “to do” list and increase our efficiency. Where are we going so fast?

Our daily interruptions and frustrations are gifts in disguise. They slow us down, move us past and beyond our initial reactions, plans and expectations into something much deeper and more meaningful.

After this hit me last night, the woman and two kids who ran up to me this morning to see Molly and Lily became the gift of the day. It was no longer an interruption but an opportunity to stop and participate in life. They beamed as they petted them and the girls soaked it in as well. A simple moment, a simple act, a brighter day for all of us.

We are here to be instruments and channels of patience, love and light. To give and receive. Looking forward to some more “interrupting” moments tomorrow.

“Remember to be gentle with yourself and others. We are all children of chance and none can say why some fields will blossom while others lay brown beneath the August sun.” – Kent Nerburn