My Thousand Points of Light

Several years ago I went to New Jersey to visit my old college roommate Bill. While he was driving us to his home from the airport I noticed something on the top of power poles. I asked him what they were. He said the power company put small solar panels on top of each of their poles to generate electricity. At first that seemed silly. How much good could a small solar cell do? Then I imagined how many poles they had. Together they could add up to a lot of lights being powered.

It reminded me of something I heard at my wife’s commencement address. Usually speeches at graduations are pretty boring. That’s why my dad listened to the Astros games using an earpiece and pocket radio during the speeches at his children’s graduation.

However, this speech was different. It was short and to the point. The professor reminded the audience that we all have thousands of small interactions with strangers during our lifetime, such as the checker at the grocery store or waiter at the restaurant. He recommended viewing those in a different way. He said to be fully present during that interaction and do your best to connect with the person. Give a gift to them by making that time special in some way. Look them in the eye, smile and greet them. Use their name if possible.

That made an impression on me and I’ve been doing my best to follow his advice for nearly thirty years. Almost everyone appreciates it. However, I take it one step further. I also do it with strangers on the phone. When I call a business and someone answers I tell them my name and ask how they are. Then strike up a short friendly conversation if possible. Their reactions vary. Some are curt and ask how they may help me in a way that tells me they want to get down to business. However, most appreciate the gesture and let me know by what they say next or the tone in their voice.

In my post The Big Secret I said everybody I meet has something in common. The Big Secret In some way they feel as if they are not enough. That is a heavy burden to carry. They have been doing it so long it almost feels normal. That’s a sad thing. By being present in this small interaction I am helping this person, if for just a moment, feel as if they are enough. I help lift that burden every so briefly.

Jesus said that you reap what you sow. That has been my experience with these interactions. By lifting another’s burden I  create a small point of light, in their life and in mine. Just like New Jersey solar panels, those moments of being present with someone, added together, make a big difference in my life. I am grateful to this day for that professor helping me change my perspective on how I view greeting strangers. I’m glad I was listening to him and not the Astros game.

May you have enough today, one moment at a time.