The movie by this title is a must-see in my book. It is a true story about a young man in South Africa during the time of apartheid…so it is not an easy story, but it is a beautiful story of hope, resilience, friendship, human kindness even in the face of human wickedness, and sacrifice. Highly recommend.
This post is a tribute to the power of one person’s attitude, actions, decisions, and responses. This past week, I made a huge oversight in planning which meant that a day-long retreat I was offering had no lunch prepared. Not a good element to miss. I had let the details fall through the cracks, resulting in a realization the evening before the retreat that there was nothing planned for lunch the next day. [insert slight panic here]. It also just so happened that the person I knew would be able to help me find a last-minute caterer or box-lunch option had already left the office because it was her birthday. (If you, reader, do not know Judi Buncher, your life is poorer for it.) I was torn between bothering her on her birthday afternoon or leaving an entire retreat group in the proverbial lunch lurch.
I opted to bother Judi. After promising me that it would be fine and not to worry, she resumed her birthday events at home. I, of course, continued to worry...until the next morning when she called and told me that she was going to prepare lunch for the retreat group herself. She showed up with groceries and all the necessary items to put together the most lovely, fresh, beautiful luncheon imaginable. When, with mouth agape, I questioned whether or not this was truly doable for her, she looked at me so kindly with the biggest smile and said quite simply, ”I love feeding people.”
People like Judi do indeed feed people. They provide nourishment for the soul, for our sense of hope. They fill our spirits and renew our belief in the goodness of humanity. They provide a welcoming space and a place to find community. They show the great power of kindness, the great power of generosity, the great power of even one small (or not so small) act of love.
Be on the lookout today for who it is in your life that demonstrates the beautiful, incredible power of one.