Humbled by the Simplicity of Bentley

This is 11-year-old Bentley, the precious Havanese of my Austin family. He looks so contented and bright-eyed. He’s contented, but not so bright-eyed. He lost his sight, so he makes his way around the house to his familiar places of comfort, finds his food and the people he loves. He knows me. Along with his people-brothers, he knows I’m a sucker for giving him a piece of meat from my plate. He’s contented with just being. He saunters around the house, occasionally bumping into a wall, but finds himself around just fine. He has developed a mental layout of his domain and he navigates it well. He’s not in pain. I do pray for his sight to be restored, but he’s not complaining at all.

Bentley hears well. He knows it when someone enters a room. He smells well. He knows when I sit down at the table to eat my eggs and toast, makes his way to me, tilts his head back and those black eyes, though without sight, stare up at me and licks his chops. I can’t resist him. I leave half my egg on my plate for him. I know he loves eggs, because he’s the one that found the eggs I had just gathered from the hens, sat them down while I watered the garden and found nothing left in the container. Bentley and I both have good memories. I’m so thankful.

Though most of us could barely imagine what losing one of our senses would feel like, I understand that if one is missing, it can heighten the ability of the other four. For example, the amazing tenor, Andrea Bocelli, has sold over 90 million albums. Bocelli said his parents made him determined to never give up: “This is what my parents showed during my mother’s pregnancy when the doctors advised her to have an abortion because the baby would be born with severe illnesses. She ignored their advice and carried on with my father’s support. Without their courage and faith I would not be here today to tell the story.” He was born with congenital glaucoma and he eventually went completely blind at age 12. Bocelli says he’ll always be grateful for his parents’ intervention.

For most of us, we can barely even imagine what something like blindness would feel like. We have grown accustomed to our world’s sights, sounds, tastes, smells and touches. But, if one of those senses are missing, particularly that of sight and sound, if lost, the brain “reroutes” the normal sensory pathways and the unaffected senses take up the responsibilities of the affected sense, so to speak.

I’ve seen it in Bentley. For example, touch is more important to him – he cuddles into us; his ears hear better, his food is tastier than ever. I’m thinking that I should close my eyes so that I appreciate what I’m eating more. Maybe my sense of taste and smell may light up in ways I’ve never experienced. I can’t imagine all that blind people must have to conquer – getting dressed, cooking, finding their way through obstacles in their homes. Bentley has given me a new appreciation for the gift of sight. It’s made me realize how much we can take for granted in a single day. My early morning walks without seeing the beauty of a sunrise or the trees, distant hills and checking out the colors of people’s eyes. Bentley has humbled me by the simplicity of watching this little 4-legged creature find his way around.

Do we, all 'seeing' people, fully grasp how blessed we are? Maybe we should close our eyes more and experience what those who have no sight experience. Bentley shed new light for me on his competency and abilities, but even more for me to realize the competency and abilities of blind people. I’ve heard it said 'Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.' And just maybe the beholder without eyes sees way more than those of us who do. It is amazing what the seeing and the unseeing can learn from one another.

The Healing Power of a Hug

I saw this little girl's video on my newsfeed. She is standing at the end of her pew reaching out to everyone walking by to give each one a hug. She was a producer of automatic smiles from each person as they reach out to oblige her. Her hugs boosted their spirits. And, now, they're boosting mine!

That’s the way I roll, too! Well, I don’t stand at the end of my pew to give hugs, though that just might be a good idea, but I do give free hugs. I get introduced to someone and as they reach out to shake hands, I reach out my arms and declare: “I’m a hugger!” I can’t think of any time I’ve been refused that return hug.

I know that hugs boost feel-good hormones – especially for me. Maybe, I’m not quite as open to a stranger to offer a hug like I see many do on social media as they hold up a sign that says “FREE HUGS”, but I have a built-in sensor that tells me “That person needs a hug,” and I’ll reach out to them to hug them. That’s why I embrace my Greeter position at my church. By now, if they’ve been through my door very often, they’ll reach out to give me a hug. I love that. Give and it shall be given.

Have you ever spontaneously hugged someone that was in a moment when their despair and distress was so intense that it seemed cruel on a human level not to reach out our arms to them? We hoped that they might derive some relief or comfort from an embrace. When I was the hugger, it was those times that the huggee hugged me back for dear life.

I know these days we have to have a stronger “discerner” about hugging because “do not touch” has been overly spelled out. There is such a difference in a warm embrace that says “I love you with the love of God” and “Hey, Babe! Let’s get it on!” I’m sincerely in to the “God kind-of-love-hugs”. But I also know that non-sexual “touch”, such as hand-holding, a gentle hug, a pat on the back brings God’s love into the equation.

We huggers should be focused on the huggee with purposeful intention to offer comfort, compassion and God’s love. It is literally a heart-to-heart experience. I love the saying: “When hugging, be the last to let go!” It’s not easy, but it says “I’m not letting you go in my hug and in my thoughts for good for you!” My daughter often gives me that kind-of-hug.

It’s worth being a risk taker to give out a hug to someone today. It just may brighten their world and help them feel loved and worthwhile – and if not for them – it’s worth it for us to give “FREE HUGS” because we need that hug ourselves. Just think of it....the heart of compassion, the warmth of a touch, the closeness of a hug. This hurting world is hungry for the touch of someone who cares -- who really cares! Through God's LOVE, you and I can be that someone. We are chips off the ole' block -- and our BLOCK gave to us BIG TIME. Let's reach out and touch someone or hug someone and GIVE what He's giving us today.

Reach Out and Touch Someone

We all know the power of a caring touch. The doctor who treated us, the teacher that dried our tears, the hand holding ours at a funeral, the hand of our sweetheart reaching out to hold ours, or a handshake of welcome at an event?

Shouldn't we be reaching out touching others also? Many of us do. We use our hands to pray for the sick, or to reach out with a congratulatory high-5 or even to write a letter or make a call or bake a pie for someone who needs us.

My nephew, Mark David Lawrence, a Skilled Nursing Facility Administrator, in the early 90's, opened an 8-bed AIDS unit in his facility. That was still at a time when healthcare workers and the general public were uneducated about the disease, and the rumors ran rampant as to how AIDS was spread. Mark and his medical team, spent hours teaching and training. They opened the unit, and were full within a few weeks. One day, during his daily rounds, he learned a valuable lesson.....the power of a simple touch of his hand as he shook the hand of a new patient, and held it for a moment. Tears welled up in the patient's eyes and he uttered the words, "You are touching me, and you are not wearing gloves". Out of all the classes and seminars he attended, the most valuable lesson Mark learned in caring for people, was simply the touch of his hand on someone who was hurting.

Let's make the difference in someone's world today....by reaching out and touching them. They'll know they are loved, and appreciated when we do! Diana Ross sang it so well: "Reach out and touch somebody's hand -- make this world a better place, if you can!"