It was hard to get myself out the door with Benjamin to the YMCA. He was agreeable, which helped. But I was weighed down by the cares of this world. I sent up a prayer to God, but it was postcard sized and I didn't have the energy for a stamp. 

Ben started laughing in the car. He was remembering the antics of a cat named Acorn. Ben fully enjoys the slapstick of a feline who knocks a plant off the table. This pulled me out of my slump enough to enjoy him. 

We climbed on our stationary bicycles, side by side, and our legs began to push. Mine knew what to do, but my heart was not in it. After two imaginary miles a woman came up to me. 

"I just want to thank you. My son is in the preschool and he loves the days Miss Lori comes to sing."

Come again? How was it possible that this woman, who clearly belongs in the gym as compared to me who is just pretending, is grateful for the time I spend with her son? This feeling, a good feeling, was incompatible with self pity and pushed it off the table. 

She went back to her routine, and I resumed mine, but with fresh energy. 

After our work out Ben asked tentatively. 

"Now what?"

"Starbucks!" I assured him, and we headed that way. 

The drive thru had a line of cars, and while we waited I peeked at social media. There was a comment from someone I have never met, but who worked in the government. I find his posts informative and honest. He speaks from experience and integrity. Earlier that day I had written as much. I was surprised by his response. 

"Your posts have been inspiring and influential. I don't know if I would have written this had I not habitually read yours."

This was a bigger jolt for me than the peppermint hot chocolate would be for Ben. How was it possible that I had ever served him the way he has served me? And his country. In the same thread he described his reticence for speaking out in this political climate. 

"I found jumping out of a plane as a Ranger easier than some social interactions I've been called upon to do. I understand how difficult it is sometimes to overcome these hurdles."

It does matter that we show up, and finding out that we are connected to others who are doing so as well is the loudest, and subtlest, answer to prayer I can imagine.