It's a real treat to visit my parents. I have such respect for all they have accomplished, their commitment to virtue, their amazing work ethic... even after about 8 decades of toil, they still seem to find an inner peace, joy if you will, in taking care of the ranch, the cattle and their equipment.
The respect that I have for my parents and my inmate desire to please them, I suppose, that has brought me to the point of viewing everything I show them "through their eyes." Part of the my time here in their home always seems to become an adult version of show and tell. Technology has taken the childhood game and given it an adult feel.
During this stay, I've shown my parents a few of my favorite music videos, some photographs, an awesome Ted Talk on the Secret of Happiness https://youtu.be/fLJsdqxnZb0, and this weekend's sermon at Timberline. (Jeff Lucas, the British pastor, was back in the saddle - he's my favorite.) https://vimeo.com/126700099.
As always, I find myself very intent on pleasing my audience. Interestingly, I begin to find flaws in the things I really, really loved - as I critique them from the standard or lens I can safely assume my parents will view them. In the case of the Ted Talk, it became almost annoying how fast the speaker spoke... probably because of the time constraint, the video may have even been sped up. The orator at church seemed a bit less captivating and I found myself offering up some "back story" to help make the music videos more compelling.
As is generally the case, I find that the things I was so eager to show suddenly seem unworthy. It's true, my folks have a comparatively small bandwidth when it comes to things that will impress them. But what is more profound is the speed at which I am willing to adapt my own perception to match theirs. Mentally, I begin to wish with fervor that I could tweak the the presentations to make them truly worthy of my parents' adoration.
Reflecting on this has made me pause to consider what other audiences do I play to and how do I alter my perceptions to fit the scene. Does my little Subaru that I love suddenly seem like less of a blessing when I am awarded shotgun in one of the other broker's fancy rides? Does my language take on a small sprinkling of four letter words when I find myself too long in the company of those who communicate more colorfully? And, what about the weekend adventure climbing the Devil's Backbone with the kids... is my reminiscing as fond when reading of the lavish vacations enjoyed by the many patrons on Facebook.
The challenge is this... to love what you love and to love it earnestly, honestly and with gratitude... not as compared to someone else's treasures or through the lens of those with a different perception but with the wide, eager eyes of a child.
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