The Spark

The Spark lit up Annie's eyes and the residual heat radiated warmth throughout her body.  Her smile leapt from her body and buried itself into Jimmy's soul.  The impact stunned him for a second, causing his mind to drift...

I am twenty-seven years old.  We first got computers at school when I was in the second grade.  In eleventh grade we had classes in Microsoft Word, Excel and Publisher.  My parents sent me off to college with a laptop to one of the most wired public universities in the state.  And now I use a computer everyday as an advertising account manager.

Annie is twenty-six years old.  She graduated from a two year community college and is one of our admin assistants.  How could she not have known...?

Every human being on this planet travels the road of life.  Sometimes we take others for granted.  Especially those of similar age and education who are traveling near us.  If we listen and open up our minds, perhaps there will be an opportunity for us to give the Spark.

Jimmy was helping Annie write an e-mail.  Looking over her shoulder, he instructed her to open up a new screen.  Annie clicked her mouse four times.  Jimmy was incredulous.  He gently asked her to close that screen and allow him to take over the mouse.  He directed the mouse to the new mail icon and clicked once, bringing up a new e-mail screen.

...the Spark lit up Annie's eyes and the residual heat radiated warmth throughout her body.  Her smile leapt from her body and buried itself into Jimmy's soul.

The Spark is the ever so slightest exchange of information that can awaken one's universe and bring gamma rays of delight to the other.

Comments

[Rosa Say]

So much wisdom in your post Dave. We just don't think about these things enough in those moments we live them, occupying the spaces of other's lives.

As a coach, I live for this spark you describe when I have the good fortune of a face-to-face session with someone, particularly a manager who wants so very much to be better. Sometimes you can hear it in someone's voice when on a call, or when reading between the lines of what happens in virtual project management spaces, but seeing it in person, and having this experience you describe that Jimmy had, is extremely powerful, profoundly moving stuff. At that moment, you realize why you try so hard, and as Jedi master Yoda said, “Try not. Do, or do not. There is no try.”

The people in our lives deserve so much better than “try.” Delivering this spark is glorious.

[dave]

I am sure as a teacher Rosa, you live for those moments of passionate attention.