Every now and then, something happens in our lives that really impresses us. Such a thing happened recently to my sister who lives in Florida, and I felt a need to share this with others. It was a sign of hope for me — one of those synchronicities that seem to sometimes come when we most need them.
Florida has many great places to take walks, and my sister is fortunate enough to live near Tampa Bay and thus has many places where she can walk along the water. One such place is Phillippe Park. She related to me that recently she went further than expected and became very tired. There were many huge homes facing the Bay but most had high walls or were screened in some way from the public walkway.
She was very pleasantly surprised, therefore, to walk past the home pictured above (and we show just the place by the water and not the home itself). She was struck, as was I, by this note of welcome in this world where so many these days feel the need to barricade themselves behind high fences, strong walls, and heavy security measures.
This is not to say that we don’t need security measures. In order to live safely today, most of us are very concerned with security measures for our safety and that of our families. Nonetheless, the resting place and the sign pictured above speaks to those who still want to share what they have with others.
When I walk around our neighborhood, I often see resting places in the yards of the home by which I walk. There have been a few times when I would have loved to sit down for a few minutes and rest. I keep meaning to suggest to our local park district that they place benches in more of the small parks our village has scattered here and there.
I even wondered briefly what my neighbors might say were I to set a few chairs near the street and put up a welcome to rest sign. I doubt I would have the guts to do it — and the rest of my family would likely protest. Still, I am old enough now to be aware of how much our world has changed and how often our reaction to others is to pull away rather than welcome. Could we be more welcoming to our human brothers and sisters? Should we be?
I wonder. And yet I greatly admire the people who live in the house by Tampa Bay who were gracious enough to extend a welcome to those walking by.
godawarenessdaily 