I was in a hurry. As it was, I knew I was going to be late. The six lanes of traffic had gaps. I stood, knowing my decision was one of two. On one hand, I could try to cross the road. Alternatively, I could wait, trusting the process. In my hesitation, I listened to life’s whispers using the situation to take me to a different place.
Trust can be challenging, even more so when one’s mind demands a particular answer. I could see the impulsive answer and the thoughtful one. I took the latter. Candidly, at that moment, my decision was driven by the enjoyment I found in reflecting on stories of others tested in the past. The first story that came to mind was Abraham’s choice when asked to go against his intuition. “By faith, Abraham, at the time of testing, offered Isaac back to God. Acting in faith, he was as ready to return the promised son, his only son, as he had been to receive him -” (Hebrews 11.17). That example had so much more than my stakes of being a few minutes late.
Trust does not always come with instructions. On this day and in this moment, I had multiple languages, colours, and sounds. This was an exception to the silent questions I usually find myself facing. At times, the silence presents a dilemma. Most of the time, silence presents a decision that many individuals, myself included, ignore. I continue to rediscover that my choices when nobody is looking most clearly reveal the truth of my heart and soul.
Trust is an expression of faith in someone or something. In this case, in addition to my safety, I thought of the decisions of a community offering guidance for the greater good. This included pedestrians, drivers, and others. In letting go of my need to take precedence over all others, I found myself in a community of patiently working together with care and kindness. I experienced belonging, support, and the details of what everyone contributing in her or his way looks like.
