Last summer there was a binge of rock hiding in my town. Parents and children would paint small rocks to look like flowers, or animals, or rainbows, and tuck them beside a bush. Then when other small kids and their moms went on a ramble, they would discover them. And be glad.
My girls are older, so it was not part of our
routine to go poking. But the delight spread even to those of us on the sidelines. It is charming to think of three year olds bending, looking closely, believing that there are treasures to be found. Many were rewarded.
The skill of searching can be life saving. My friend's husband is one of the most highly trained search and rescue men in British Columbia. If you are lost in the snow, he will come find you.
Those of us who are not likely to be
misplaced can unearth evidence of kindness too.
- The woman who bought a wide broom so that she can sweep away the snow and rocks from her sidewalk for passersby.
- The man who sang and played for the conference who said being paid was not his concern.
- The people who showed up to help clean and garden at a Pay it Forward event.
- The eighth grade students who cooked soup for families facing
cancer.
Looking for signs of love in subtle places can bring us back from a different kind of lostness.
