A Moment Of Silence

I awoke today to find an unbelievably quiet house all to myself. I snuck through each room just to make sure I was the only one around. Thankfully, I was. It's not very often that I can enjoy a peaceful Sunday morning. There are usually kids running, arguments popping up, etc. Anything but silence.

But today, today was all mine.

I poured a glass of juice and planted myself in a chair on the front porch. The dog accompanied me and had a great time frolicking around inside the confines of our picket fence. The weather was perfect - warm enough to fight away a chill, with the slightest fall breeze blowing the hair from my face.

My neighborhood is all a flutter with people on the weekends. Everyone is out walking their dogs, biking, taking the kids for a stroll - it's quite nice to just sit and watch. Every so often Cameron would gallop up to the fence to greet a passerby. Dogs make friends so easily.

I could hear the choir from a church two doors up. People were driving up and down the street in search of parking. The stragglers would hurry up the road, bible in hand. One man parked in front of our house directly under a "No Parking" sign. As he walked away, he turned back several times as though he were debating on whether to leave his car there. Little did he know people do it all the time.

I sat in slince on the porch just watching life happen. Nobody knew I was there.

Then, walking up the sidewalk towards the church, a man appeared. He had Down's Syndrome. He wore dress clothes and a messenger bag draped over his shoulder. In his right hand, the Holy Bible. He walked with a persistence and perseverance. He didn't notice me. He never looked down at Cameron as she hopped over to the gate. He just walked on.

Without warning, my eyes watered and I began to cry. It was right then that I knew I had everything I have ever wanted and it gave me peace. I have so much to be thankful for and it overcame me all at once. I think I also cried for the man on his way to church - so many obstacles in his way but he walked on.

I'm gonna keep walking, too. I can beat you, Atlanta.

I'm not going anywhere.