I do not take much for granted these days and my faith leads me to believe that everything happens for a reason- hot and cold. Everyone that comes onto my path, into my life is here for a reason; to teach or learn from me. I first became aware of this idea after reading M. Scott Peck's writings.
"All human interactions are opportunities to learn or to teach and when you neither learn nor teach you are passing up an opportunity."
"Further Along the Road Less Traveled" M. Scott Peck
When I was a child there was a woman who rivaled my mother for my love and affection. Largely because she almost spent as much time with me. I knew her as "Aunt Betty". Her name was Elizabeth McDowell and she was actually my mother Jeanne's aunt. While growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania my mother Jeanne thought Betty was actually her sister as she did her own mother. That is a story for another time. Aunt Betty was my Godmother literally and figuratively. She was gone before I was fourteen years old; brain aneurysm. I have always felt a void inside although it is smaller and smaller by day.
I always take pause when I meet a new person named Betty. If you are named Betty you will always get from me what one might call the - benefit of the doubt. I am likely to be more attentive to the learning and or teaching aspect of the interaction. Now there is a part of me that looks for an added signal or message from my Creator simply as part the residue of my Aunt Betty's expansive Love.
In the past two years another Betty has come into my life. Most every Sunday (when I'm there) at the early worship service at our Smyrna First UMC she sits in the pew just ahead of me. I look forward to seeing her. She is Holy Spirit filled! A year and a half ago after noticing in Church my Harley-Davidson wear, she told me she had on her "bucket list" to take a ride on a Harley. I knew immediately that I would be the one to take her. Just in the past week she took that ride and I was at the controls. It was a great day. There was a lot of learning and teaching going on. I was able in some way that only God could comprehend to express love for my precious and long ago departed (from this world) Aunt Betty.
Amen Sisters
Bradford Bosworth
November, 2015
I always take pause when I meet a new person named Betty. If you are named Betty you will always get from me what one might call the - benefit of the doubt. I am likely to be more attentive to the learning and or teaching aspect of the interaction. Now there is a part of me that looks for an added signal or message from my Creator simply as part the residue of my Aunt Betty's expansive Love.
Amen Sisters
Bradford Bosworth
November, 2015
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