errant
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Early rise. Dreams Nap. Dreams. Nap. Worship. Strangely dour. Lack of sleep. Dinner with friends Bright and happy Screened ET Some of Moulin Rouge. Drifting. Breakfast with Shelby-the-boy Would like to draw tomorrow. And read
Jah’s plan is like a beautiful tapestry. And the tragedy of being human is that we only get to see it from the back. With all the ragged threads and the muddy colors. And we only get a hint at the true beauty that would be revealed if we could see the whole pattern on the other side…as God does.
There are some people who have sun inside them. It's hard to explain. Their presence just brightens, it's not about their beautiful smiles. They have an internal being that sheds light and feels like sun. It's a calm energy. Inner peace. But most importantly; it's not wanting anything back in return. It's sun.
I worked at a bookstore. Teenager came in daily. Read for hours. Never bought anything. Finally asked. “Looking for anything specific?” “Just reading. Can't afford books. Library's far. This is closer.” Let him stay. Read whatever. Whenever. Brought him snacks. Hot chocolate. Safe space. Learned his story. Foster kid. Seventh home. Books were his escape. His education. His hope.
Started giving him books. “Damaged copies. Can't sell them. You want?” He knew better. Took them anyway. Read everything. Three years of this. He aged out of foster care. Eighteen. Scared. Nowhere to go. Helped him apply to college. Scholarships. Got in. Full ride. English major. Graduated. He's a teacher now. High school English. Brings his whole class to the bookstore. Shows them where he spent his teenage years. “Bookstore worker gave me sanctuary. Knowledge.
Hope. Taught me one person caring changes trajectories.” He buys books for students. Who can't afford them. Pays it forward. Every kid in his class reads. Because someone let a foster kid read for free.
-Paula Simmons, bookstore clerk, Rhode
—A library saved my life. I'm fascinated that a bookstore did that for someone else. I doubt this is uncommon. Books are our peace, our salvation.
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