| Through Laura's Eyes |
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We have a British exchange student living with us for two weeks. Her name is Laura Greenwood, and she lives in Winchester, England. This is a first for our family, and after enduring the jokes about the dubious wisdom of adding to our already vast number of children, she is here and we are enjoying the visit thoroughly. Laura is delightful -- friendly, funny, and easygoing. We love her accent (Mo swears she will forevermore pronounce tin foil “al-yu-min-yum”), and her stories about life in the UK. Maureen is counting the days until her reciprocal visit in June, saving her shillings for a spree at Harrod’s, looking forward to singing with Laura’s choir on the Isle of Wight. She expects that her glimpse of Laura’s “neighborhood” will be exotic and fascinating. The unexpected bonus of Laura’s visit is the chance to see our little town, and our daily life, through her eyes. She actually finds the Philly accent “very interesting.” She thinks our church is charming (this from a girl whose “local” church is Winchester Cathedral!). Laura notices little things — the types of seashells on our beaches; the differences between basketball and their “netball.” Because she observes American culture with keen interest, we take another look. If travel is broadening (and understanding life in other cultures assuredly is), travel is also deepening. It can deepen our appreciation for our own particular patch of God’s earth. Maybe, just maybe, Oreland is, in its own way, exotic and fascinating, too. This month, with the fresh beauty of May all around us, let’s take a minute to appreciate just how amazing our lives are. Let’s look at our normal routine with the eyes of a stranger and see what is good, even wonderful, about each day. A cheese steak can be a celebration. And, while we’re at it, let’s continue to reach out to people who live differently from the way we do. After all, becoming members of a mutual admiration society with our brothers and sisters around the world is more than something to celebrate. It is the surest path to peace. Happy Mother’s Day! |
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