and Spiritual Atrophy
A few years
ago, I was waiting at the bus stop to catch a ride to my place of
employment. It was very early in the
morning and quite cold outside. I had
gotten off the train and was expecting a normal day. But the events that happened at the bus stop
caused me some reflection, concern, and pondering, and stand out in my mind as
a key day in my life. The bus to my
place of employment was running late for some reason. Most of us were very anxious to get on the
bus, mostly because we were all cold and additionally because I had a
professional development class I needed to get to which started promptly at
7:00 am. The bus that day was about 15
minutes late, so I was a little concerned that I was going to show up to class
late, which I don’t like at all. I am
one that does not like to be late to anything.
I remember that an older gentleman came up to me with $5.00 in his hand
and asked me if I had change for a five, so that he could take the bus, which
only took exact change. I looked at him,
and told him that “I am sorry, but did not”. He started to walk away, but then
came back to me, looked me in the eye, and told me that “I needed to be happier
and smile more often.” I was a little
shocked that an absolute complete stranger would tell that to my face, but I
smiled back at him and told him that “I was happy.” He smiled at me, and then walked away.
I found this
particular event in my life very interesting, especially with regards to its
timing. At that moment in my life, I was
going through much personal tribulation, stress, and had many professional
assignments that I had started working on that needed completion. My cup was running over! My church assignments were very busy and my
daughter, Casey, had just been admitted into Brigham Young University and I was
worried how we could help her financially, while still keeping a missionary
son, Collin, out in the field. I stood
there at the bus stop pondering over what this gentleman had just said to
me.
For me, it was
an eye opening and life changing experience for me to have a complete stranger
come up to me and tell me that I need to be happier, or smile more. I am a very happy person, but the problem at
the time was evidently a disconnect between what I was feeling on the inside
and the expression I showed on my face.
I pondered over how I could tell my face the happiness I am feeling on
the inside?
