As we shopped for dates, I watched store personnel pack up orders to go. Most were for tourists; small quantities of dates, 250-gram packs, with dark, fleshy dates as a preferred choice. Quietly, two clerks packed local orders, a case at a time. Each order was 30-40 times the quantity of what the foot traffic was consuming. Additionally, the orders reflected one of the preferred dates of choice for a snack at sunset, accompanied by Arabic coffee. Superficially, the demand was seen in the foot traffic. When it came to sales, the quantity of dates going out the door told a very different story about demand.
As today begins, I am considering what the demand in my life tells me. Where I walk is one story, my time and what I consume are others. The revelations of each give me lessons that shape my view of the day ahead.
Choices come with context. It is more than seeing life in colour instead of the old black and white. It is realising that “There is a proper time and procedure for every matter, though a person may be weighed down by misery.” (Ecclesiastes8.6) In being willing to see and consider life in all its reality, I find a light to my path. It is not always easy to see and choose what the next step will be. Context and purpose come together to bring clarity to the invitation to care and make a difference.
One’s heart and soul are revealed through my choices. Each expression in word, action, or choice reflects the values and priorities that I hold closest to my heart. The revelation that follows reveals the contents of my character. The story I tell paints a picture of my soul. In fulfilling the demands of my life, I share a personal story of what I believe is most important.
In the quiet, unseen, and often unnoticed moments in life, one finds the truth of one’s heart and soul. It is an uncomfortable opportunity for awareness, growth, and an embrace of what I can be.
