Friends on the Playground

The library is hub for interesting folks—like me. Most who come to the public library come because something is not working out: they need internet, they need access to a computer, a fax machine, directions or instructions regarding public services, and so on. I work and study from my laptop at the library almost every day.

One crew that comes regularly is a group of folks with individual handicaps. They can be noisy and spatially invasive, but I enjoy being around them when they come. Each is his or her own person—like the rest of us—with remarkable individualism and personality. One young-ish fellow reminds me of a small mischievous bear. He wears a devious smile and holds a weasel-like posture (scrunched shoulders and face forward) as he regularly picks on a not-so-amused victim—an older lady who seems to assume the position of the mature one of the group, though she obviously has the mental-maturity of a much younger person.

Among these funny characters, one fellow sticks out to me each time he visits. We made eye contact one day, and he lit up. I returned a smile, and he lit up even more. It felt so good to see that, so I make a point to ‘say’ hi each time I see him.

While the rest of the adult world holds a ‘professional’ façade, this grown-up kid still smiles at friends on the playground of life. It hurts to think that in return for his humble happiness, he receives mostly stone-faces and cold looks away. And when he receives a smile, this six-foot man shines like a child. I look forward to seeing him. I can tell he longs for happy friends. And so do I.

Today I saw this friendly fellow enthusiastically put his books away and run out of the library with his caretaker. I made sure to catch his eye as he came. As expected he grinned and almost giggled as he waved and rushed out the door. He had on a baseball cap—backwards—and as he left I could see what it said: “I [heart] Haters.”

I couldn’t help but smile as I thought of the Savior’s words:

“Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; . . .
“For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same?”
“Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” (Matt. 5:45, 47; 18:3-4)

I hope to be more like my friend—friendly to all, with true Christlike/childlike love.