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

KNOWvember: Day Fourteen, Lou

11/14/2020

2 Comments

 
​​What do you do when the person you schedule a meeting with doesn’t show up? You call Lou. Actually, I called my daughter. She had me call Lou and that’s how our story began.
 
Granted, I had said hello to him before when we FaceTimed my daughter at college. And I did kinda meet him when a group of them came up from San Diego to Los Angeles. But it was only a brief meeting. I mean, I knew he was from Massachusetts and he was a freshman in college. I also knew he was studying nutrition but I had no idea why. Or why he picked San Diego State for college. 
Picture
The power went out in student housing before I could get a picture. But this captures the spirit much better I think.
He knew stuff about me, I’m sure. Like I was his friend’s dad, and that I was desperate to meet someone today. Like I had welcomed him into our home, Lou welcomed me into his heart; giving me a wonderful glimpse into his life, his goals, and his values.
 
With deft confidence, Lou began to talk about college life, the move and experience, his classes and the effort he is putting in. He spoke of his independence and freedom and the balance of school and life. He seemed genuinely excited, even if it felt like he was hired by the school to talk to perspective students.
 
We shared our stories about our first trip to Southern California. For me it was to surf. For Lou, it was to do another mission trip. For both of us, “It was like looking into a bright light after coming out of a dark room.” Different landscape, different buildings and shops, and different people than what we were used to. 
 
Lou told me a story about an asylum seeker living in a shelter across the border in Tijuana. “I met a guy my age and heard his story of survival. It was like looking in a mirror at a life that was parallel to mine, but polar opposite. I wouldn’t be able to cross back over the border as the same person. After that trip I knew that I wanted to help people.” It sounded like an essay one might write for a college application. I would discover that’s exactly what it was. 
 
But this is Lou’s story, and there’s so much more to it. Like so many of us, Lou struggled to figure himself out. “I was the overweight kid in my class.” Faced with growing health problems, “I took the time to fix me.” He began to make radical changes in his life, starting with exercise and then his diet. Since high school, Lou has been cooking his own meals so he could know all that was going into his body. 
 
As it is with so many freshman, myself included, diet is one of the least important things happening in your life. This morning Lou had mashed sweet potatoes and ground turkey as a pre-workout meal. I had cinnamon toast. I have a weakness for filling my stomach with garbage, like Lou’s favorite Muppet…Oscar the Grouch. “I like his impromptuness.”
 
I found this most interesting because Oscar the Grouch does not value relationships like Lou does. Whether they are interpersonal, or with family, friends or with God, Lou is attracted to people who share this value. He considers himself to be an optimist which is strengthened by his willingness to adapt to life situations.

​“I don’t want to come out of the pandemic with any regrets.” I like this most about Lou. He takes nothing for granted, and seeks opportunities to better himself so that he can better the world. I know for a fact he did that for me tonight. Showing up exactly when needed.  
 
He may not have been who I set out to meet, but to take a cue from Lou, I was optimistic and willing to adapt. Because of it, I formed a wonderful relationship with this amazing young man. Life surprises us like this. We have to be willing and ready to go with wherever it leads us. Who knows who you will meet along the way. 
 
And just for the record, Lou has never shot a crossbow but would love to.  
2 Comments
Jean Mineo
11/15/2020 05:40:28 am

Thank you Rev. MacDonald for capturing our son so eloquently. He continues to inspire us on the other coast every day!

Reply
Ian
11/16/2020 09:27:53 am

It was my pleasure to get to know him. You did a great job raising him up.

Reply



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