As I sit in an airport sipping a breakfast coffee, I could be almost anywhere in the world. There is something universal in the shared experience of our morning breakfast routine. While there are country and regional variations, the role of a warm dark beverage, coffee, or tea, is shared. In the quietness of my reflection, while the strangely soothing house music plays early in the morning, I find myself hearing lessons reminders of universal themes.
As much as I love hope, part of me still doubts. I love compassion and kindness. I also know that I am not always compassionate or kind. I love the community. There are times when my actions are only focused on what I think is good for me. Bluntly put, I love Divinity, “but it’s pretty obvious that not all of me joins in that delight. Parts of me covertly rebel, and just when I least expect it, they take charge.” (Romans 7.23)
There are times when everyone needs a pick-me-up. While sleeping for most of a seven-hour flight help, I landed longing for a warm coffee uplift. The need for an encouraging word, an embrace, or someone being present, is universal. In learning to appreciate how much the gift of others in this space means to me, I find myself pulled to seize the opportunities to be there for another.
While the nuance of language varies, meaning is far more universal than one first realises. Thank you is often understood through one’s tone and demeanour as it is in the word. A cry for help can be felt as quickly as it is heard. I appreciate the attempts to communicate and share, even as I work to understand the details.
In knowing how much I share with those around me, I find myself longing to give what I am looking for myself. It starts with love and a sense of belonging. It continues with respect and acceptance. It lives with kindness and a willingness to share. Each, in any language, is universal.
My agenda and priorities today are clear.
