A Bit Better

I saw Santa Clause this morning.

A man about six feet tall, wearing big boots and a red puffy jacket, sporting a white beard and a wind-burned nose, walked past me as I rounded the corner of 19th and K streets. He was jolly looking. A slight belly and a delicate grin. Almost a smirk. And we made eye contact, at which point his smirk blossomed into one of the most comforting smiles I’ve ever seen.

Now I’ve never been a huge proponent of the merit of “signs,” but this one struck me. In a city where few barely look up and where everyone seems to be in a constant rush, a sincere look can touch you, and can make you stop.

I actually turned around and watched him walk in the opposite direction for a few seconds. And then he magically disappeared into thin air. Just kidding! I don’t think he was really Santa Clause, but I swear to you he resembled him. Maybe he was an elf, like the ones in the mall.

In any case, that moment reminded me that a simple gesture can change someone’s day, perhaps even unknowingly.

Emerson...

To laugh often and much,
to win respect of intelligent people
and the affection of children,
to earn the appreciation of honest critics
and endure the betrayal of false friends,
to appreciate beauty,
to find the best in others,
to leave the world a bit better
whether by a healthy child,
a garden patch, or a
redeemed social condition,
to know even one life
has breathed easier
because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded.