When others say it better for you

I couldn't put into words what made me uncomfortable about The Blind Side. Then I read my own feelings in a much more eloquent piece written by Christopher Chambers.

Or maybe it is because I'm rarely in the mood for feel good movies in general. Unless its The Princess Bride.

Sky Blue and Black

I talk a lot about caring for people far away, in Rwanda, in Darfur, in places of the world where we will never know. But it's so easy to get caught up in the little things in life. Exams, stupid arguments, where I'm going for dinner...life is busy and we think we have all the time in the world.

Someone I didn't know died today. Someone right down the road; not an ocean away. Someone young and beautiful and I'm sad that she's gone. I don't know how to say this and not sound cliche, but my heart aches for her family.

And I think about the last time before now that I cried, and what a stupid, stupid reason it was for. And I wish there were better ways to put my life in perspective than the blunt reminders of other people's pain and suffering.

And again, at the risk of sounding like an incredibly cheesy hippie, I know that what connects us all together is...love. Yeah, I said it. But it's not just that warm gushy feeling, but that gut wrenching grief and undying connection we find ourselves locked in with each other, when we see others sadness and make it our own.

You know those commercials during the holidays encouraging you to tell people you love them...and then buy their diamonds to give to said loved ones? Well they got the first half right.

A great young woman told me tonight, "Don't ever underestimate the power of just standing with a friend and being still."