For his twenty-first birthday, in 2015, we took Eli out for dessert at the Nittany Lion Inn. Of course, he wanted to order a glass of wine along with his dessert; and, of course, the server wanted to see his ID. No surprise there.
The surprise came later. The alert server had spotted that the day was his actual birthday and (without saying anything to us) had upgraded the presentation of the chocolate-raspberry torte (already rich and delicious) to something a little more... elaborate
Eli's expression was a delight to behold
It was a beautiful moment. Yes, in one way, it is probably good business to act like this (I made sure to write the hotel manager a nice letter). But I remember it more as aa matter of someone paying attention, looking out for an opportunity to bring a blessing, when they could just have got on with their job. I believe - and I think Eli believed this too - that opportunities to bring blessing in this way are all around us, if only we will make ourselves open to them. I truly want to do that.
1 comment:
your words bring me back to my favorite benediction,
"Life is short, and we do not have too much time to gladden the hearts of those who travel the way with us;
So be swift to love, and make haste to be kind
And may the Divine Mystery Who is beyond our ability to know but
Who made us, and Who loves us, and Who travels with us,
Bless us and keep us in peace.
Amen."
A benediction by Dr. Edmund Jones adapted from words by
philosopher and writer Henri Frederic Amiel, 1821-1887
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