Every once in a while, a little of someone else's world opens up, enough to take a peek in. You can see for a second a glimpse of that person's problems, his worries, get a sense for what is important in his life, what's pressing on his horizon, even what things he pays no attention to. You may not know this person at all, but for that little while where you look in, whether through some phrase that slips out in an email or a mention in a phone call, that person is a person, just like you. You relate. You two may be living different lives — completely different lives — but you are both living lives; you both are fully human beings. The window doesn't stay open forever, and perhaps that's a good thing, because I think we do not have room to live more that one life at a time.
I sometimes think about such windows when I hear about death on the news. When I hear of some number of people being killed in some sort of horrible occurrence, man-made or otherwise, I think about how all these windows have closed for good. The numbers do so little to convey that for each one of these within the statistics, there was a life there. There were years of experience, good and bad, that that person went through, digested, handled, folded and stapled. And there are years, now, that such a person would have gone through, but have no chance of doing so now. But here, too, such thinking is fleeting. We have none of us hearts large enough to handle the true total of tragedy in this world, or even that we hear about. We move on, thankful for the glimpses.
Mary
1:06pm friday, 26th march
This is a very true thought. Makes you think about things like that.
myraj
7:29pm friday, 26th march
I think it's amazing when we have moments like this.And, even on the other side when we slightly open up to some one and you feel like they understand. it, in my opinion, is the most comforting feeling.
Hope
10:14pm wednesday, 31st march
having a glimpse of someone elses life is an amazing experience, each time that happens is counting to understanding the world around you
Katherleen
12:06pm saturday, 15th may
Just another tool given to man kind to explore our fellow neighbours on planet Earth. I'm glad to be able to open this window and share your insight to how we are in some way or another all connected. War is crule and hate given generates more hate. Praise the gift of love we are able to share in our concerns and generate more of it. Love is the best gift. No weapon is stronger. Great to have met you!
Kind regards, Kath
Mary