Little Worlds
The day before we left the States to return home – I visited my Grandpa Kaiser. He was recently diagnosed with dementia at 92 years old. As we sat to talk, he was grappling with the reality that his mind couldn’t remember words, people, places, or even how to do simple tasks. He described the embarrassing reality of having someone knock on your door to let you know that you’ve left the car door open, or worse, the car running. And then the sadness that it may be time to stop driving. What do you do when you’ve been praying through names your whole life but can no longer remember them – “well you know who, God.”
Then he suddenly switched to tell me, “You know what I’ve been thinking about? We all live in little worlds. And why don’t we care to know about the little worlds of others? I used to visit the farm every summer,” he continued, “and what I cared about most was goofing off with my cousin Dan and having a good time when the chores were done. My aunts and uncles were there, and so many people there, all with their little worlds. And I can’t figure out, why didn’t I care about what was happening in their lives as much as what I wanted to do with mine? So it got me thinking…”
He paused as if trying to figure out a big puzzle. “All of us live in these little worlds. We should get to know them.”
Our time together continued, and I discreetly filmed our goodbye prayer, not knowing whether Grandpa would have the mind to pray in such a way on our visit next year. I simply couldn’t hold back the tears as I ushered my girls out the door. My mother gave a hug saying, “it’s hard, isn’t it?” Yes. It’s hard. I don’t like the feeling, and I there is nothing we can do about it. And I live too far, in my little world.
I know that Grandpa spent much of his life entering the little worlds of his neighbors with a generous hand that gave hope to others struggling with financial worries or burdens. Perhaps he couldn’t remember that when he told me that story. Yet, since our visit his words have stuck with me.
Little worlds. We all live in our own little worlds – and I’m wondering, how do I best spend my time entering the little worlds of others? Will I someday wish I had spent more time seeking out strangers to become friends? What about the little worlds of those I see regularly? I want to see hope in little worlds, and I want to see Jesus in little worlds. Tell me about your little world.