Opposites

Life and death. Love and hate. Joy and sadness. Laughter and tears. Rough and smooth. Each day we see opposites colliding. We see the joy of new life in hospitals and homes as babies gasp for their first breath and a bundle of new life is placed into a mother's arms. Then we see the slow procession of a hearse taking a lost loved one to their final resting place. We see hospitals full of tears of joy and churches full of tears of sadness as people bid farewell to someone who has touched their lives and left a fingerprint of love.

Working in a restaurant I always observe the variety of emotions buzzing through the place. You see the couple who are comfortable in their skin and feel no need to say anything but simply enjoy the food and their surroundings. The sublimely comfortable silence.

Then there are those who are sitting in silence out of awkward awareness of how they have a lot less to say than they thought. The silence is magnified by the excited chatter of others around them. A quick meal and quick exit marks the uncomfortable aura around them.

You see those who are brimming with joy; exuberant laughter and excited story telling fills the air as their happiness is infectious. I smile with them as I revel in seeing people utterly caught up in the moment. Heads tipped back in laughter; touching of arms and gentle hitting as one mocks another in good humour.

The you see those whose meal is tainted by anger and frustration. Maybe the meal was meant to be a peace sign - a treaty even. But the arguments continue. Angry words in hushed tones so no-one notices. The rigid bodies and negativity reveals too much though. Showing a couple with forgiveness needed and issues to resolve.

This is what I love; the diversity of life in one small restaurant. In one small community. Ultimately, in one small country. We are all part of a rich tapestry of life and death. Love and hate. Laughter and tears. Joy and sadness. We are not an island. We are not centre of the universe. We are all on a strange, difficult and beautiful journey.

A journey of opposites. A journey of contradictions. A journey of confusion. A journey of peace. A journey of love.