Our Condition: Jean
Every day interactions with people that have been dropped in my life who impact the way I think, feel or make decisions. This story is, in my opinion, a beautiful example.
I met Jean on the top deck of the Burlington, Vermont parking deck. He stood behind his creaky gold Civic, bopping around as he packed some things on a hand truck that was placed in the last spot in the deck. When Jean noticed he was blocking the spot, he moved his things in a very animated fashion, hands flew above his head as be tossed his things around. When I came around the back of the car his first words to me were “did you know bungee cords are the number one workplace hazard?” While he held a black dry-rotted chord up for my inspection. I could feel the conviction in his glacier-blue eyes, as though bungee cords had wronged him. His piercing eyes were shaded beneath a worn straw hat that completed his traveling-musician ensemble. I spent some time poking around in the mess I had in the back of the car searching for a missing camera lens. Jean had many wonderfully eclectic phrases to share. He simply radiated joy. The unfiltered kind of joy, almost like no one I had met before. He saw my camera and said I needed to find him later to take some pictures of him playing music. He was working on promotions and needed some shots.
As I closed up the car and headed for the stairwell, Jean yelled after me with the kindest words: “hey brother, have a great night. I hope you find the love of your life.” I only laughed as he continued with “life is too good to go through alone. I’d introduce you to my daughter if she were anywhere near! She would really like you!” Jean said this through a grin that covered his face; split by mischievous laughter. I walked away laughing and waving goodbye to my newest favorite person.
As luck would have it, I met a fellow sunset enthusiast along the shore of Lake Champlain that afternoon. She and I spent the night together writing a screenplay worthy of Hollywood. Of course, just like any good chick flick, Jean came back into the story. I waved to my warm friend and we stood nearby wrangling runny ice-cream cones while Jean’s smooth old voice echoed off the cobbled streets.
The events of my evening wandering Burlington undoubtedly precipitated as a result of Jean’s enormously kind words. His impact however, went further than that one night. Jean reminded me of the calling each one of us have, often locked away, to love one another. Love is big and powerful and I believe we have been graced with the seraphic capability to love. Oftentimes, love is draped around our hearts but we are cold to its effects. Jean was my reminder to welcome people and faith and to share more love. Perhaps, someone is doing the same in your life, but you just do not want to feel the warmth of their love. Friend, open up to it, you never know what you might witness.
