Everywhere one looks there are smiling faces. You will probably never know what they are thinking; however, the externals are stunning!
Take the guard standing outside the key hotels. Smiling, alert, ready to stand at attention in the blink of an eye; they are models of behavior.
Check out the clerks in virtually every story. Bright and cheerful, beautiful smiles, usually helpful, and always diplomatic – they make shopping a pleasure.
Stop by for a quick coffee in an old traditional house. Drab colors, fading posters, and burning hot coffee are all in stark contrast to the starched white uniforms, bright smiles, and nodding affirmation to every question. The twenty-cent bill for two with the six-cent tip seems a shame giving the kindness and attention that comes with the order.
Grab a quick soda and enjoy the smile and enthusiasm, as the bottle is wipes, top popped, and straw dunked for a quarter.
Rest and chat with a family in a traditional Jhaintia Hills home under a straw roof and open fire kitchen and you will rediscover the art of wonderful conversation.
Much of India is a living model of inefficiency and wanting attention. The dust, unwanted animals, lost souls, and broken remains are there for all to see. If you stop and look beyond the surface there is a great story waiting to be experienced. Your eyes catch the contrast, usually at the individual or family level and it could not be more intense. People who have a job are exciting to have the opportunity to serve. Those who have a home take time to be proud to share what is on the inside. Giving gifts is a loving art form. Sharing is a way of living.
I fall into the trap of racing the rat. Solomon had blunt words. “You lazy fool, look at an ant. Watch it closely, let it teach you a thing or two.” (Proverbs 6.6) Today I opened my eyes and let the smiling faces teach me a thing or two about God. Take time, it can be amazing.
