Jesus, Not Jesús: Finding The Divine In The Space Between Us.
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact
  • Be Kind
  • About this blog
  • About the author
  • Contact

30 People. 30 Days. Day 21: Amy

11/21/2018

0 Comments

 
Picture
Amy was heading south. We were going north. Both of us hoping to escape the smoke from the fires in our respective areas. Along with hundreds of other people from all over the place, we all lodged at the same place. The Oxford Suites in Pismo Beach, along the Central California coastline.

Amy sat beside us around the fire pit. I had done the same thing about 30 minutes prior. It was there a met John, Shawna, Greg, Jeff and their collection of kids and grandkids. They were from the Central Valley where smoke from both fires settled and stayed.

Amy came alone. But my wife and I learned she was traveling with her 78 year old dad and 15 year old son. I also sensed she packed a lot of baggage that she had been carrying since her son was born early after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage in utero. Fresh out of college, her son came into her life around the same time his father left.

As everyone retired for the night and went back to their respective hotel rooms, I sat with Amy and my wife, and talked until the propane tank ran out of gas. And then we talked some more, long after the hotel manager rekindled the fire with a new tank.

Most of what I learned about Amy I can not repeat without betraying her trust. I can say she’s 44, single mom, and works doing behavioral therapy with preschool kids in the Head Start program. She has a good understanding of life, but just doesn’t like the way life works. I understood her completely. She also loves Michael Franti, who sings about...love.


Amy has kind eyes that both tired and compassionate. She has a warm smile that is also tired and compassionate. And a gentle heart, which I suspect is tired too. But compassionate.

Off Highway 101. In dog friendly hotel. We shared our hearts. We shared our faith. We shared our fire. As the Spirit of love burned warm and brightly. Some strangers pass like ships in the night. Then there are the other ones. Like Amy.



0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Ian Macdonald

    An ex-copywriter turned punk rock pastor and peacemaker who dedicates his life to making the world a better place for all humanity. 

    "that they all might be one"  ~John 17:21


    “Prius vita quam doctrina.”
    ​~ S
    t. Thomas Aquinas (1225–1274)​
    * “Life is more important than doctrine.”


    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    February 2011
    December 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010

Be Kind

About this blog

About The Author

Contact

Copyright © 2011