As I was looking through my Alaska pictures yesterday, I found this humpback whale photograph. Such a magnificent being.
I recalled what the National Geographic naturalists shared about all that happens under the waters’ surface…the humpbacks' practice of blowing bubbles to capture their prey, the signals the whales use with each other...so much happens that we never see.
As I studied the picture, I had a thought. So much happens below the surface with people, too.
A few years back, I was in a car mechanic’s waiting room reading a book. I looked up and noticed an older woman sitting across from me, focused on her knitting. I judged her expression to be a bit sour, and quickly assumed she was an unfriendly person. Then, she smiled at me.
I asked her about her knitting, and she shared that she was making blankets for orphans in Bosnia. She beamed as she talked about her daughter and son-in-law who volunteered in an orphanage. We had an amazing conversation.
That was such a good lesson for me. Look below the surface, and connect rather than judge.
I’m still working on it…
(New photos on website Gallery: wandernature.com/new-photos)