Into their eyes, young lady
What a day.
Went to church today. I led the Grade One and Two Boys small group (fondly nicknamed by me: Orangutangs Whom God Still Loves Deeply) and had some fun. Then I went out to my parents’ to pick up by boys’ newly-hemmed Tae Kwon Do outfits …. and while I was there, my parents got a call.
My uncle passed away quite suddenly; he did not wake up this morning. He has been in a wheelchair for 25 years or so, as the result of a car accident (a car that he built from scratch, no less.) Despite being paralyzed from the chest down for the past two and half decades, he has led an active life. He and his sons rigged up a van for him to drive independently; as well as a quad for him to drive on his farm. To say he is an outdoorsman would hardly scratch at his passion for God’s creation. Mostly to me though, he was just a wise soul. He watched life with an incredibly analytical eye from his wheelchair. I remember when I was talking about going into recreation therapy, he gave me a word of advice. He said, Don’t you ever look at a person’s wheelchair first. Or their tubes or their prosthesis or whatever else they have. You just look into their eyes. Hard. Everything you need to know is in their eyes, young lady.
He called everyone “young lady”.
I’ve always kept that advice close to my heart, and I share it with my students each term before graduation. Y’know, that advice has served me well in my career, and in my life.
I especially feel for my aunt and cousins today. Went for a long, long walk (over 10 k) today and had some good tears and some good memories.
