Paulr Revere: history is all about the people

It’s all about the people.

That is the conclusion I have reached this week, and it’s a good conclusion. It has worked for every situation I’ve been in!

We started our week with our Pastor’s wife and daughter, already happily touring the Boston area when David and I arrived on Monday. I noticed that Noelle (the daughter) had very definite opinions on which historical tours we were going to take: Paul Revere’s house yes, Buckman Tavern no. Favorite attraction was John Quincy Adams’ house and library. It did not take long to realize why. For Noelle, history is all about the people and their stories. “George Washington really slept here!!!” It is no coincidence that she lives her life that way, as well.

We also shared several dinners with my mother while we were here. On each occasion she added (or wanted to add) to the guest list. “I don’t want her to feel left out!” Sweet. And while I’m not going to say that my mother doesn’t enjoy our company, we have noticed that she wakes up and sparkles when there are other guests at dinner. She is alone a lot, and for her it is all about the people, too.

And then there’s me. David and I were looking forward yesterday to two friends from Florida joining us at our condo while they visit their college-freshman daughter. Brian and Robin live just up the road in Florida, but we find we connect far more often as couples in the northeast. To me, the pleasure of fall in New England was multiplied many times by sharing even a smidge of it with my friend.

Now we sit at the airport, blogging away and checking Facebook. That’s when I realized how true this post is. A quick scan down my friend’s status statements and I’m in the loop. I see that my oldest daughter — who should be studying — appears to be playing this weekend. And I can see that my baby girl must not be awake yet. A couple of their friends, however, have said really sweet things on my Facebook. And at church our adult ministries pastor’s wife is planning to come to service in spite of delivering a baby and having two surgeries, all within three weeks. I guess I won’t complain tonight when I’m too tired to want to go to church.

And I probably wouldn’t complain anyway, because at church I’m surrounded with other people making their way through this crazy kingdom. The journey would be nothing without them.

It’s all about the people.