Posts Tagged ‘perspective’

23
Feb
2017

Broken heels

categories: General

stuck stilettoThe feeling of a broken heel is a distinct one. It’s more familiar to gals walking on city sidewalks, getting their shoes stuck in vents, on electric escalators or on public transit. But sometimes heels break because of a worn-out shoe or poor manufacturing or simply because we abuse them by running or jumping.

But the feeling! Sometimes it’s shame or embarrassment. Especially if you’re all dressed-up at an event. Now, if happening during the day it could be freeing as then you have the perfect reason to buy a new pair, or you may be able to repair them. However, the best scenario is when a friend saves you from embarrassment by doing one of two things: taking her shoes off and going barefoot so that you’re not alone, or lends you a pair of her shoes so that you can carry on.

That last possible scenario is a good illustration of empathy; a word I have learned a lot about in this last decade. (more…)

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20
Aug
2016

Fierce lady

categories: General

During a recent flight from Miami to Guatemala City, a lady came down the aisle toward where I was seated. As she’d approached what seemed to be her seat, beside mine, she kindly asked  a young man to place her carry-on on in the bin. She then asked me to let her into the window seat. As more people boarded the plane it became evident that my fellow passenger had actually sat in the wrong seat, but the other passenger did not make a fuss, and took a seat instead at the back of the plane.
We took off and the woman asked me what was taking me to Guatemala. I proceeded to tell her my story – I was a temporary missionary headed to Villa Hortencia II. I shared with her about our partnership with Food for the Hungry. She thanked me. When I asked how her trip to the United States was, her eyes became glassy. She said, “it was good, I finally got to see my children and met my grandchildren.” (more…)

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14
Mar
2016

Traveling Shoes

categories: General

Visiting a new city is always exciting to me, like wearing a new pair of shoes out to début. I recently slipped on a pair like that during our family vacation to Atlanta, Georgia. We arrived on a sunny day, which was in stark contrast to the week of grey skies we’d just left behind.

The city’s skyline was a collection of modern architecture with glass panelled buildings, lit tops and ornate rooftops. People seemed happy; maybe it was the Friday effect. We took a trolley around downtown for only a couple of dollars (pretty reasonable) and opened our eyes a little wider to take in all the interesting sights. There were many parks, water fountains, university campuses and all sorts of landmarks. Trees are not abundant around downtown Atlanta, and some areas were a bit overwhelming but the urbanism is still pleasant. (more…)