Yesterday was a normal day here in San Miguel de Allende, although more obviously normal than usual, in a good way. I am used to aspects of this culture related to patience and kindness and honesty. Cars stop for you to cross no matter how safely they could go first. People on the street make a point of quietly greeting you or smiling. It is more likely that a vendor will chase you down the street to give you the six pesos you left behind than to overcharge you.
But yesterday was an unusual bunch of goodness.
It started when I was waiting for a group of friends to arrive for dinner. I went outside to open the garage for a friend with a car and found one of the other dinner guests, Laura, talking with two Mexican migrants who were cleaning my neighbor’s car. They were explaining that they were headed north knowing what awaits them there, still better than what they left behind. They spoke without bitterness or self-pity.
I asked the men whether they would fix the ribbons hanging on my window frames. We got out the ladder and they untangled the ribbons, then re-knotted them. When they had finished, the ribbons looked loved.
The young men were so grateful to have just a little work, and the socks and snacks we shared. I went in the house feeling so much gratitude for my life and for yet another tender connection with two people whose lives are so different from mine. It is these moments that make me realize there are no differences when it comes to the things that matter.
The young men left, and we went inside for dinner, six of us sharing stories and laughing. Among these creative women, a ceramicist, a dancer, a writer, all six with adventurous pasts and big hearts.
A couple of hours into it, I went for my phone to show everyone a Lizzo video. None of them had ever heard of her! Terrible that they have missed out! As I routed around for my phone, a light-bulb went off in my head: “You bozo, you left your phone and two credit cards on the windowsill when the migrants were fixing the ribbons.” That is, on the street.
I ran outside. No phone on the windowsill. Ugh. I was mentally adding up the cost of this lapse.
Back in the house, Nancy called my phone number and we listened to the ring on the phone’s speaker. Then, to everyone’s shock, a young voice answered. He gave us an address a block away. Three minutes later, a door opened at Number 14. A young boy stood in the middle of four younger children and held out my phone with two hands. It had the credit cards in the cover. He explained that he had found the phone on a windowsill, and worried that someone would steal it if he didn’t take it home. The children’s father stood silently in the background, letting his son have his moment. I will never forget my brief encounter with this family, and the soft-spoken boy haloed by the street light.
And then we watched Lizzo!
Today brought another kind of goodness. It began with a beautiful message from Robby in Louisiana, reminding me of her conviction to find the truth of what happened to her family’s land and oil and gas resources. She knows the facts, but she wants the truth. She never talks about retaliation or money or even justice. Just truth.
Then I walked down the hill to Unitarian Universalist church (Stan says “It’s not a church, it’s a fellowship”). thinking about Robby’s message and what makes truth so important to us. As I sat down in the crowded room, I noticed in the order of service that the day’s sermon was called “Seeking the Truth.” Ask and ye shall receive. Reverend Tom, always wise and joyful, began by distinguishing “truth” from facts. Truth is something inside us, he said, that integrates us and defines our wholeness. Intuitive. Transcendent. As Ralph Waldo Emerson might have said, “It’s written in us.”
And then Reverend Tom reminded us that finding answers is not so important. He quoted my favorite poet, Rainier Rilke, who said, “Love the questions….live the questions.”
Perfect.
Love it!
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San Miguel is calling you Kaffene….
Beautiful.
Gracias amigo.
Perfect piece Kim. Made me wanna’ hug that kid.
❤️
So happy you’ve found a place that provides such amazing experiences.
Thanks Henry ! And still I have wanderlust! Back on the road next month.
You make it so natural to be a part of the whole world. Thank you Kim. Being human in an internet world is so important. Bless you. Carolyn
Thank you so much. Nice to hear from you. Hugs.
I was at the UU today too but didn’t see you! This was my third time and I enjoy it more and more each week. I hope they have my name tag done by next week!
Hey I am getting a name tag next week too! See you there.
Love. Love. Love ❤️
Thanks Barb. I hope you will visit sometime. You would love it so much
Loved this Kim…..and (as you know) I love living in Mexico and the Mexican people…..also “Living in the question” in one of my mottoes in life….and the transcendent truth inside of us connects us as a tribe…gratitude for you and your writing….my “sister-from-the-sixties” 🙂 !
Yes David, I was definitely channeling you a little bit there. Get in touch if you are going to visit SMA before I leave next month!
I loved this entry, Kim. Judy R.
Thank you Judy!
Lovely post Kim! You’re one of San Miguel de Allende’s angels. Your generosity, and love of humanity is contagious! They say the way to survive in troubled times is to look for the helpers, and you are definitively one of the helpers.
Thank you so much — I am lucky
Another beautiful post, Kim. I like when you observe: “It is these moments that make me realize there are no differences when it comes to the things that matter.”
Thank you Rosaliene!
Kim, what lovely observations yiu make about the same things that are importsnt to me in San Miguel: the loving, kind and generous people there, both Mexicanos and expats. Hope to make that promised connection with you before you leave next month. I return from a writing retreat in La Manzanilla on the coast, on January 21. Let’s make a date, Keep writing.
Sher
Thanks Sher! Definitely want to connect when you get back!
What a beautiful soul you are. I’m inspired to be a better person.
Thanks for saying that. The people I meet on the road inspire me to be a better person! San Miguel is really good for that!
Thank you Kim. I have loved reading your beautifully written pieces (and of course the photos) since our paths crossed in Sri Lanka. This brought a tear to my eye. We forget there are GOOD people in this world. Thank you . xx
Thanks for your sweet note. I have such nice memories of my time in Sri Lanka. Hope you are well.