Garage Band
I went for a walk this evening for about an hour and a half. My pace was slow and thoughtful. For the most part I had a smile on my face and said hello to ever person who crossed my path. Most people were cool with my greeting while a few were taken aback. That didn’t stop me, I wanted people to feel a moment of personal warmth as we past on the first cool evening in over a month. On the walk I thought a lot about my personal ethos, I was kind of taking some internal inventory. I feel good about where I am in life right now and I want that to be reflected in who I am when I connect with people even if it is in passing.
About ten minutes down the path I heard what sounded like a garage band jamming as the sun started to set. I slowed down and listened in and I liked what I heard. The music was fun and the band sounded like they knew what they were doing. Now I was smiling for two reasons, I felt good internally and the music made me feel even better. Good combo! I thought to myself “good for them” and continued on my way.
Forty-five minutes later as I approached the same house on my way home, I found myself hoping to hear the band still playing. I could see a light at the backdoor but no music. As the house came into full view I heard voices and and saw a group of guys gathered around a car talking. Without thinking about it I walked right up to them on what was now a dark evening and asked if they were the guys that were jamming the first time I passed. I could see a worried look in their eyes (they were probably thinking I was some mad neighbor) as they affirmed that they had been playing. Immediately I told them that I liked their music, I also told them I thought it sounded fun. ”Really? You like our music?” They were shocked that someone they did not know and had never seen would take the risk to tell them on this dark night, “I like your stuff.”
As I walked away the whole group of guys were smiling and felt encouraged, so did I. I started the walk thinking about who I was on the inside, when I got home the person I had been on the walk had made someones day. And that’s the point of “Electric Ethos” when you get your batteries charged it feels good and who you are can make others feel better about themselves, even in passing.
Some might think that this is a story about me, but it’s not. It’s about the One who charges my batteries. He gets all the credit. Live Electric!