A few afternoons ago I was out at Black Bayou National Wildlife Reserve, enjoying a solitary walk along the pier. Whenever I find myself there alone, the peace of the place overtakes my thoughts and I enjoy it so much. While I was trying to focus in with my camera on some blackbirds that were loudly and delightedly enjoying the rotting lillypads, I could hear some steps coming my way.
I looked around and saw a young couple walking down the pier. I’m the world’s worst age guesser but I thought they looked, maybe, seventeen or twenty. And they had a dog with them. I always want to photograph the dogs I see out there, but I am not always bold enough to ask. But I did say, “Hey, how’s it going?”. I know what they see as they’re coming down the walkway. An old guy out taking pictures of birds. How much harder could I work to fit into the mold?
They both smiled. He asked me if I had seen anything cool. I had to be honest and say, “Not today”. With a nod and another smile, they headed on their way and likely didn’t think about me again.
But I thought about them and the kindness they showed to a stranger.
You wouldn’t think it would matter that much, really. It was only a few seconds and then it was over. While they walked away I wished I had asked to take a photo of the canine with them.
I think I’m getting to an age where it feels good to have young people speak and be nice. Maybe it’s not just young people, but anyone who can take a moment to smile, speak, and acknowledge another human being.
Gentle words are a tree of life… - Proverbs 15:4
I don’t have to tell you what a mean world we live in today. The loss of civility, excessive rudeness, dismissal, and rejection when one disagrees. Rudeness and anger have such a rooted place in social media, and the news media, and they find their way into our communities.
So a young couple walked by, smiled and spoke, and wandered away not knowing the nice feeling left behind. If I see them again I’m going to ask to take a picture of their dog.
Here’s one I took out there a month or so ago.
A smile really is a powerful thing. I’m going to try to smile more. Thanks for reading.
‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’ - Numbers 6:24-26
Beautiful piece, John.
A smile can make all the difference. I went up North for the first time in my life a few months back and I quickly found that all the stereotypes about the friendliness of British Northerners were true, they chatted and smiled, from the youngest to the oldest, and as a Southerner it almost knocked mer flat. "Do they know how odd this is?" I thought, whilst throughly enjoying the weird, but brilliant, encounters. I'm one of those rare Southerners who does smile at people, and compliment them in public, but I'd never been surrounded by people who outdid me before.
Keep smiling John!