Inspired (A handful of people who brighten the world)

Tonight I am happy, encouraged and challenged by a few people I know...

I'm just so inspired by our friends, Lloyd and Marianne. They are older than we are, of the grandparently age, and they are smart and sharp and soft and good and kind and bright and giving and fresh and out of the box and faithful and bold and surprising and extremely well-read. We sat down with them yesterday evening and four hours raced by like nothing.

I want to grow up to be like them. I want to love God and people and the world the way they do. I want to dare and dream and avoid dull ruts the way they do. I am utterly inspired, called forward and lifted by what I see in them.

I'm also inspired by my sister and her group of friends. Tanya has volunteered at Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center for 10 years. Byron and Heather and I accompanied her to her Friday afternoon ride and watched as a nine year old boy, who is severely physically impaired but has been riding since he was 2, completed his 45 minute lesson. It was so lovely to see the 4 women (2 volunteers, 1 trainer and 1 therapist) work together with gentle, skilled, loving, attentive expertise, giving their entire mental and physical presence to his success. The horse, Gigi, was no less brilliant. It was a breath-taking display of compassion, commitment and competence tied beautifully into team-work. Seriously, it could make you cry.

Byron asked why Tanya and the therapist don't trade sides of the horse during the lesson so as to give each other's shoulders some relief from the heavy work of assisting the rider. Tanya said that they can't because they both only have one good shoulder each. Their work has taken a toll on their bodies.

I want to be selfless like these ladies.

I find it so comforting to know that there are amazing people doing amazing things, not particularly recognized or applauded, but just getting on with it.

Find out more about Little Bit Therapeutic Riding Center here .