Yesterday I had a simple and joyful experience which came completely unexpected. I had gone to the park to listen to the African drummers, when I spotted an acquaintance behind the band. I approached him and sat down to chat with him. Next to us was his friend, an African man with his baby daughter, around one year of age.
When it was time to leave, I shook the hands of my friend and the friend of my friend. The baby was looking away, and I was about to leave without saying goodbye, but I waved my hand into her field view. She looked at me startled and then buried her face into her father's chest. Then, she had the courage to turn her face to look at me again. I was smiling and waving goodbye at her. Her face lit up with a big radiant smile that only children have, she laughed and waved goodbye back to me.
This simple event produced a jolt of joy that ran through me. I didn't expect this to happen. I'm not particularly attentive or drawn to children. As I savoured the moment walking to my next destination, I thought: I should acknowledge all children, not for the joy they produce in me, but for the hope and meaning they bring into the world.
Then I thought: how do I remember this commitment? Will my gloomy mood or my lack of presence draw me away from this shared joy? It felt natural to put my hand on my chest and tell myself "I keep this in my heart as truth".
Then I knew I would remember.