Smiles

The other day when I was working out at the DC sorting and distributing coats I had a pretty cool experience. There were various organizations coming to pick up women's and children's coats as well as sweaters. We must have given away around 700 coats just in one day. That in itself is pretty awesome. But there was an older woman who had come with a few helpers, one being a young gentlemen that was her godson. We did the usual introductions, I helped them pick out what they wanted and then we loaded the bags into their truck. All very usual. When I went to shake the man's hand, however, something different happened. As our hands came together and our eyes met a shiver ran along my arm, into my spine and then throughout the rest of my body. We smiled, thanked each other and they left. But that moment stuck with me throughout the rest of the day. I cannot explain what it was or how it really felt. All I know is that a connection was made. There are some who say that in forgetting our differences and seeing what is the same in all of us, we are able to see God. This is a fairly abstract idea, but I believe that the handshake we shared was a moment in which the outside world was washed away and we were joined in a mutual desire to help one another and others in our community. On that common ground we were able to see not just God in each other, but God. And really, if we are going to get technical I don't think it is that important to separate the two. Seeing God is seeing God. Or better yet experiencing God is experiencing God. We should not have to define it, or think about it or label it. It is a feeling, a connection to others, a connection to existence. If we really believe that God is in everything and again that God is everything, then connecting to existence is all we have to do. Kind of funny that it can happen through a simple handshake.