Random Reflections

I wandered down the street checking out the displays in the store windows. Everything is so festive and brightly lit at this time of year. I wanted to find the 'perfect gift' for that someone special on my list. And no matter how much I convinced myself each year that it would be the first gift I would buy 'next year,' it always seemed to be the last one I would find.

Books are always a good choice. Between the covers wisdom and new ideas can be found. A good book can provide endless pleasure and solace. But this year, even the book store provided no answers.

Commercial chain stores would not give me what I sought, so I didn't even attempt to battle the crowds. Also, the jewelry stores would produce nothing in the vein I was searching for. It was good to cancel out certain types of stores. It would save time, that precious commodity of which we all wish we had more.

It had been days now... with no results. I was beginning to think that after all these years, this would be the year I would come up empty. And how ironic would that be? This was an especially triumphant year for me in many ways. From dark depression, I had been pulled up into a light so bright that I wasn't sure I could survive. The changes this year were cathartic, explosive and profound. How could I not find something this year of all years?

And so here I was on a darkened street ablaze with Christmas lights of every description and store after store anxiously awaiting the chance to soothe my soul. "I hadn't noticed that place before," I thought. "What a unique name... Heartstrings Curiosity Shoppe. Now that's what I'm talking about!!!"

I walked inside the door and was instantly transformed. The first thing I noticed was the tinkling of little chimes as I walked in. It was such a small sound but it struck a silence in my heart. I just knew I could find what I was looking for here. I felt at home here, peaceful.

The lady smiled at me and said, "If there is anything I can help you with just let me know." I liked that. No high pressure sales here. I began to browse. What a treasure trove this place was. I'm not sure how to describe it, but it wasn't so much the items there that impressed me as it was the way they were presented and the feeling I had just being there.

I asked her to tell me about her place. "Well," she said, and paused. "Everything here is handmade. No 'made in China' stuff here. Local artisans bring me all these beautiful works of art created by their own loving hands and I showcase them for them. For this privilege, I earn a commission. And the customers? They are the lucky ones. Between the artisan's hand and the customer's purchase, I am so very fortunate to be able to live with all these wonderful handcrafted objects and to let their energy sift into my soul. They might seem like just things to other people, but to me they represent love and caring. And who couldn't benefit from that?"

I stood there stunned and unable to respond. I smiled and turned to look around. I think I might have been embarrassed because I couldn't think of anything to say. But at least I had a new perspective of what I was looking at now.

I sensed the faint scent of jasmine in the air. I hadn't noticed that before. And soft music... a piano. And so I wandered through looking at all manner of hand-crafted love. One corner was solely dedicated to Christmas ornaments. "Isn't that amazing?" I thought. "All handmade. Huh! And so much nicer than anything you would find anywhere else." I suppose I was under the illusion that handmade meant tacky. I was proven wrong.

One wall was filled with wooden shelves and plaques, all very precisely carved, burned and shaped. I was finding a new respect for what the human hand can do. Another wall showed off what a person can do with grapevines. The wreaths and decorative swags were nothing less than stunning. I was lost inside this dream of a place.

She was right. My soul felt whole and at peace. All these items were a piece of someone's heart, lovingly created to share with someone else. I had to be able to find something here.

And it was precisely then that I noticed the table with the sign "Random Reflections." Hmmm.... I wondered. There were boxes... dozens of them. Some were round, others square or rectangular, hand-lacquered to a high gloss finish in black, with beautiful pictures on the lid. A small tag stuck out from each of them.

I picked up one box to read the tag. "Although this box may appear to be empty, know that it is filled with all that you believe inside yourself to be true. Find a still place and meditate on these words." I opened the box and on the inside top lid was a small mirror and scribed inside on the bottom in calligraphy was, "No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." Another box contained, "Whatsoever you love the most owns you." And yet another, "I now pronounce you Human." So simple were those words. So effective. How symbolic was that little mirror?

And so I searched the boxes until one 'felt' like it owned me. And very soon, I had found what I was looking for. "Nothing more, nothing less... You are a Child of God."

I brought it to the lady to pay for it. "Nice selection," she said.

"Thank you," I told her. "I always delay that one person on my list until it's almost too late. I do it every year. Maybe next year will be different."

"You should always buy for yourself first," she replied matter-of-factly.

"How did you know?" I asked quite unnerved that she knew.

She just smiled at me, handed me the bag and almost as an afterthought, handed me one of her business cards. I didn't notice until after I had gotten home. Her card read, "The shortest distance between two hearts is tied with heartstrings, made by God."

p.s. Always be first on your list.