In college, I was walking out of the cafeteria as a girl was walking in. Our eyes met briefly, but because we were close enough to each other her eyes quickly went down to scan my whole person. My eyes did the same, and when I returned my view to her face, her eyes were just arriving upon mine. She looked away, but I remember chuckling at both of our shallowness to scan like that. Then for the next 4 years at college I made sure to look people in the face as we walked past each other, and say hi if they looked at me. At my current age, I might wish that I could have a pretty young girl scan me like that again, as too often, young people don’t even acknowledge my existence.

I like watching how people interact. So, truthfully, I would be more amused now to see that event take place between two young people rather than be a participant.

From my perspective as a teacher, it is interesting to see my students in a different setting or interacting with their parents, because it is often not what I see in my class room. Watching people watch a movie or listening to a speaker. I see how people interact with co-workers. They would not act that way with their spouse around.

Who are we really? Who should we really be?

The person I am with my grandchildren. Always willing to play. Looking for ways to make them laugh and how to engage their minds.

The person I am with my wife when we laugh together, play together, worship together.

Th person I am with students. Listener, learner, encourager, and hopefully holding a little wisdom for all my years.

I would like to be this person all the time.

May you be a little closer to being that person on this Happy Friday.