Small Talk

Life-giving Weekend

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Two Monday mornings ago, the small talk entering the building started with a twist on a common question. Rather than asking how was the weekend, I was asked if I did anything lifegiving.

“Every weekend is lifegiving,” I responded.

“Wow. That’s a pretty high standard.”

“I think it should be pretty normal.”

Small talk over.

I’m pretty sure we needed to clear something up were the conversation to continue. What defines as lifegiving? I don’t think we shared the same parameters or scale.

Lifegiving does not have to be synonymous with…

  • Once in a lifetime
  • Lifechanging
  • Big bucks
  • Plastered over social media

Lifegiving can be as simple as…

  • Slowing down
  • Having nothing on the agenda
  • Taking a nap
  • Time with Your Ones doing or just being

With an intentional and clear understanding of what breathes life into you, every weekend can be lifegiving. It’s a mindset. It can actually be commonplace. If that’s a high standard, so be it.

What breathes life into your body, mind, and spirit? What’s one way to make that happen these next two days?

Photo by Chris Kursikowski on Unsplash

Listening to Isaac

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Two and a half hours. That’s how long my wait was last Saturday morning from arriving at the Bismarck, North Dakota airport until the first of three flights heading home from vacation.

When you look at the photo above, you see four black chairs by the wall of windows. That’s where I chose to sit and wait. That’s where I met Isaac.

After the first 30 minutes, he moved to the chair beside me to accommodate a couple that walked up. I felt the need to start the small talk. Genuinely curious about his hoodie, I said, “The colors of your hoodie intrigue me.”

The rest of the conversation was mostly him telling me his story. About his marriage, their daughter, the challenge to bring them to America from the Philippines, his learning to walk again following a hospital stay, his struggles about making the right decision, being brought up Catholic, and his resistance to believe in just about anything due to imposters.

Somewhere in the middle he said, “I have no idea why I’m telling you all this.”

When the words ran out, he thanked me for listening and heading to the security line.

Something told me he needed to talk. Not make a decision. Not get advice. Not make a new friend. Just let it out.

Two strangers connected, around ten minutes. Over the colors of a hoodie. And life.