The Blessing of the Empty Bench
I watched the young man mowing our back yard with a tear in my eye. A week earlier he had lost his dad, only fifty-one years old. His dad was a great man who cared for the lawns for most of the people in my neighborhood. He worked with excellence, and the neighborhood had a love and respect for him. A week earlier, I had talked to him about making sure our gate was closed after he finished cutting the grass. That gate was no longer important. Now, I was talking to his son, telling him that I was sorry and praying for him and his family. An abrupt, unexpected end to his dad’s life, and an unplanned twist in his.
Our neighborhood has created a monument for this beloved man, with a singular tree planted in a heart-shaped flowerbed. Under the tree sits an empty bench. I see that empty bench each time I enter our neighborhood, and I am reminded of the frailty of life.
I believe there is great value in recognizing the frailty of life, because it makes one remember how brief it is. When you realize the brevity of life, a mindset shifts, focus changes, grace is recognized, blessings are counted, actions are altered, and priorities are reordered.
In a moment, this empty bench in our neighborhood causes me to focus on the impact I can have today. And, when I think about the impact I desire to have, it is all about other people. My perspective immediately changes. I focus on others. The empty bench creates a sense of urgency to love others.
What a blessing that empty bench is in my life. I encourage you to find that empty bench in your life, that reminder that kicks you into gear, focusing on others.
Impact others. Live generously.