Isn't it strange that princes and kings,
And clowns that caper in sawdust rings,
And common people like you and me
Are builders for eternity?
To each is given a bag of tools,
A shapeless mass and a book of rules,
And each must make err life has flown
A stumbling block or a stepping stone.
What I graduated from high school, someone gave me a book titled "Best Loved Poems of the American People". I read it cover to cover and put asterisks by the poems that struck me the most. This little gem was one of my favorites and I memorized it.
Today, it just popped into my head. I actually was walking from the chapel at church down to the classroom. I happened to peek into a classroom that had the door mostly open as I was walking down the hallway. It turned out to be the one my father teachers in.
Papa us 84 years old. He has been asked to team teach the 8-11 year olds in Primary. What I caught was two of the young girls talking with him after class. They were listening intently to him sharing a story from his life. The rest of the class had gone to their sharing time in Primary. These two were enjoy Papa stories and he was obviously enjoying sharing them.
I stood in the hallway so the door blocked me from Papa's view and just listened and watched for a moment. It was like a parent getting to be the fly on the wall and watching their kid in action. My kid just happens to be 84 years old. It was a sweet moment and a testament to why someone would ask an 84 year old worn out man to teach 8-11 year olds. He is like having your grampa teach you in church. It was very cute.
As I pondered this insight I just gained from my spying, this poem came into my mind. It was nice to realize we all came here to earth and we all serve a purpose. We can use our agency to fill our lives with whatever we will. That is our choice and we are responsible with what we do with that choice. As I watched my worn out father, I was keenly aware he is making of his life a 'stepping stone' even if he is 84 years old. I like that.
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