Stories

There are so many stories out there. Stories of hope, perseverance, humility, kindness, etc. Think about all the different emotions felt when listening to the stories of others. Did you ever stop to really think about the plight of another? To pretend as if you stand in their shoes?

Makes me consider the plight of the person in a wheel chair, the fire victim, the homeless man, the homeless woman, the cancer patient, the prisoner, the caretaker, the doctor, the soldier. All of them and all their stories.

I went to a Christmas party today. In the midst of all of those that mingled, I learned bits and pieces of stories. Some were grand, filled with hope and promise, some were rather bleak due to illness, but, all were indicative of a much bigger picture--a stage portraying the cycle of life, for some were old, some young, and some in the middle. The one thing in common, was the desire to tell their story, to communicate their thoughts, to be heard.

Then, I thought about how each of those stories weave together to form this life-this world. I remembered the movie, "How to Make an American Quilt." I watched it today before the Christmas party.

We cannot hear every story, or capture every meaning, but, we can take time to listen to one another's stories, if only to let each other be heard.