Folding down the visor to avoid the evening glare, I fight my way out of the far right lane, and onto 280 traffic that is already backed up, aligning my car towards home. Taking the Southwest Expressway exit, I consider stopping at the new Zanatto’s Express Market, just to browse around (I’m sort of hungry). I glance at the single homeless encampment just past the off ramp, a ragged man in a ponytail is sitting in a beat-up beach chair, holding out a cup to the cars stopped at the light, but my car refuses to socialize, I’m hoping to be safely tucked in the garage by four, and I go speeding past yet another opportunity.

Isn’t that always the way with me?

It’s decision time every second of every day. I especially feel this as a teacher. Before the second bell I’ve usually answered at least nine important questions, sixty-eight by the end of class, and at least two hundred and twenty-two by days end. 

• If I turn my journal in tomorrow will it be considered on time? 
• Can I redo this reflection, I didn’t realize it was 500 words? 
• Can I research something other than the Gospel of John, he’s so dramatic? 
• Can I run to the restroom, I had a meeting at lunch?
• Is it my day to present? 
• I don’t like so and so in my group, can I switch? 
• What are we doing today? 
• Can you write me a note to the sick room, I ate something rancid at lunch? 
• Did I miss something important last class? 
• I don’t like sitting in the front, can I move to the back? 

Okay, that’s ten, but who’s counting.

Like a demigod, my objective is to say yes, whenever possible. Can you guess the one I refused to acquiesce on? 

• Yes
• Yes
• Yes
• Yes
• Yes
• Yes
• Check the pacing guide.*
• Yes
• Yes 
• Yes

The lessons learned are the miracles, and thankfully God is continually adjusting the curriculum, not just for me, but for everyone. Ends up we all in this together, strung together like twinkle lights (I shamelessly overuse this metaphor, deal with it), if one is out, we all don’t shine, and the bugger is we’re irreplaceable. Every single bulb, yeah, is irreplaceable, and I might add our string is looking pretty shabby. 

Maybe I’m learning humility this week, compassion the next, empathy tomorrow, so I can be more malleable, useful, valuable to the ones who needs me. Our matriculation is sort of self-driven, especially when you tuck the lesson plans under your pillow each night, resting your head on those hard earned soft skills.

I watch my daughter Julie get down on one knee so she is on the same level with her daughters, using words they can easily understand, helping them through a tough decision. “Honey, there are two paths we can go, but were going to take the one less traveled, and believe me that is going to make all the difference (usually it has to do with dessert before dinner but you get the general idea).” She meets them where they are and with great tenderness tutors them in the direction they should go.

On a completely different scale it’s like God entering the human condition in order to meet us at our level, the extraordinary compassion we were shown by this very act, and how he went about illuminating a path for everyone.

Have you heard the story of the good Samaritian? You know how I love a good story. It’s the tale of a injured man laying on the side of the road, beaten, near death. A Priest and a Levite (influential people of their time) walk right past the man in need, and a Samaritian (a marginalized, discarded, rejected individual of the day) stops to help. He pours wine and oil on the wounds of the victim and pays for the injured man to stay at a local hostel. Jesus tells this story in response to an important question.

Who is my neighbor?

You guessed it. We are all responsible for the injured persons we come across as we journey through life. The weird part is when I’m the injured one I don’t like to admit it. But trust me, the people you come across when you are in need are equipped with the essential skills, the right brand of generosity, the appropriate level of compassion, that’s why your paths have crossed. We get beaten down enough by life, let’s raise each other up whenever possible, restore one another, pour a little wine on those wounds.

Folding down the visor to avoid the evening sun, I fight my way out of the far right lane, and onto 280 traffic, aligning my car towards home. I’m exhausted, but it’s family dinner tonight, and I nudge the accelerator with my right foot. Taking the Southwest Expressway exit I see the ragged man sitting in a beat-up beach chair as I clear the offramp, he’s holding out a bent tin cup to the cars at the stop light. 

This time I’m determined to be the Samaritian, I roll down my window, and wave a five dollar bill at the tired man. This is when I notice he is a she, there’s a moment when our fingers touch as she takes the bill gently from my hand, she says, “gracious.” I’m stopped at the light, you know me, I hate silence, so I try a little high school Spanish, “Cómo se llama?” She turns back to me and says, “Maria.” I say without being asked, “Cheryl,” as the light changes I yell out the window, “buenas noches.” She smiles and waves, “buenas noches.” She’s missing a couple of teeth, it’s sweet on her, and that’s when I see the car behind me waving a bill at Maria from his window. 

For once I didn’t speed past an opportunity. 

I’m Living in the Gap, drop by anytime, we’ll talk soft skills.
Anecdotes:

• Many people feel so pressured by the expectations of others that it causes them to be frustrated, miserable and confused about what they should do. But there is a way to live a simple, joy-filled, peaceful life, and the key is learning how to be led by your own wisdom, not the expectations of others. Joyce Meyer
• There is no end to education. It is not that you read a book, pass an examination, and finish with education. The whole of life, from the moment you are born to the moment you die, is a process of learning. Jiddu Krishnamurti
• The Four Agreements don miguel ruiz
• Be impeccable with your word – Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
• Don’t take anything personally – Nothing others do is because of you. What others say and do is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.
• Don’t make assumptions – Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
• Always do your best – Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse and regret.