(con't.) what really happened at the Passport Agency

Spiritual resource to share: patient waiting



I mentioned in my last blog that my son and I needed to do a lot of waiting to get what we needed for him to travel overseas - a dozen or so lines and an all day kind of waiting. I thought this was good practice for my son. You see, to become masters of international travel, I said - coaching him in the larger lessons of life - you need to become masters of waiting. And we were getting some prime experience with it last week.

Now, at the Passport Agency, we were waiting with others, in close quarters. We all had our stories and were all in relatively urgent situations in acquiring some type of alteration or new passports so we could continue with our planned trips. One might think that the room was only full of people wringing their hands about the anxious unknown. But it wasn't.

I don't think I have ever experienced anything quite like that day at the Passport Agency. I knew that the agency was swamped with "historically record breaking demands" (from their voicemail) on passports due to regulations in immigration and homeland security. But what I saw was a slice of humanity that was so kind, helpful, encouraging and thorough - it was so heartening.

My son and I got to talk to a number of people and hear their stories. Some just complained and were frustrated. But sometimes when we talked together, that frustration would lift and something inspiring or hopeful or joyful would appear.

• One woman took it on herself to ask the 50 or so people in front of her, if a man - with limited English who was trying to get home to his father's funeral that day - could cut in front of them. We all said yes. She explained this to the man who then went to the front of the line with tears in his eyes. She then returned to her space in the back.
• Two young Spanish speaking women from Mexico helped another woman and her family from Guatemala fill out some important papers while standing in line.
• My son and I agreed that we would give our place up to another small family who had to meet a plane in 12 hours and still did not have their passports. They went to the front of the line and we went to the back. They were able to speed up the process and we soon saw them leaving. They quickly shared a "Thank you so, so much" a few times with us and then took off. (That felt so good.)

We sat waiting the longest time near an American woman, her one year old daughter and her aunt from Mexico. Her husband had died just days ago, and they needed to take care of funeral arangements and get their daughter a passport. There was such love between the daughter and aunt, and their little girl was sweet. We shared our stories, our love for Mexico and the most hilarious ideas for how they should spruce up these Passport waiting areas with inspiring, outlandish, and interactive art pieces. (Think of it -- this is where we NEED good art!)

So our waiting time was full - good stuff was going on right where we were. People helping, comforting and supporting each other. And to think that this good is always going on! This is the omni-action of Love! In Miscellaneous Writings, on page 307, MBEddy explains this:

“What a glorious inheritance is given to us through the understanding of omnipresent Love! More we cannot ask: more we do not want: more we cannot have. This sweet assurance is the ‘Peace be still’ to all human fears, to suffering of every sort.”

Sandi has left a new comment on your post "(con't.) what really happened at the Passport Agen...": so, will there be a part III, where Micah gets his passport?

Kim: Oh yes. Everyone we talked to got their passport that day, including Micah!







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