Joshua

His name is Joshua! 

I met Joshua randomly on a pirate miniature golf course in Florida. It was one of those ordinary vacation moments that wasn’t supposed to become anything more than a round of miniature golf, a little competition, a little laughter, and some quality time together as a family. And then Joshua walked into our path. 

He was there with a friend from OCA, and almost immediately, he decided we were going to be friends too. “So, what are our names, friends?” There was no hesitation in his voice. No shyness. No wondering whether we wanted to talk to him or whether he was somehow intruding on our space. He simply saw people he didn’t know yet and decided that was reason enough to introduce himself. He saw friends. And just like that, we were no longer strangers. 

Joshua joined in on our game from the sidelines, celebrating our victories as if they were his own. When one of us made a great shot, he cheered. When we were trying to figure out which direction to send the ball, Joshua was ready with advice about the angle and just how hard we should hit it. And when one of our balls inevitably went flying in the completely wrong direction, his giggle joined ours. He was so smart. Between turns, he calculated numbers in his head, keeping track of the scores for himself and his friend with an ease that amazed me. 

But it wasn’t Joshua’s ability with numbers that stayed with me. It was his ability with people. Joshua didn’t seem concerned with all the invisible boundaries the rest of us so carefully construct around ourselves, the ones that tell us not to talk to strangers, not to stand too close, not to be too loud, not to ask too many questions, not to hug too tightly, or let people see too much of us. Joshua simply showed up as Joshua. Boldly. Joyfully. Completely.

I found myself wondering, what if we all lived a little more like Joshua? What if we were a little braver in our friendships? What if we believed in one another enough to cheer for each other, even for strangers? What if we laughed a little more? Hugged a little tighter? What if we stopped worrying quite so much about protecting our own space and instead made a little more room for one another? What if we were simply more present? 

Present with our families. Present with the people God unexpectedly places beside us. Present in the seemingly insignificant moments where life is actually being lived. Present enough to notice one another. Present enough to love one another. Present enough to recognize when something sacred has stepped directly into our path. 

Joshua was joy that day. He was light. And somewhere between the pirate ships and golf balls, the laughter and numbers, the cheering and hugs, Joshua showed me another piece of the person I am becoming. 

Part of my becoming is learning to love a little more like my Savior did. To love without carefully drawn boundaries, to love without first asking whether someone is like me, and to love without allowing discomfort or differences to determine who receives my kindness. Jesus noticed people. He sought out the one. He moved toward them. He welcomed them. He made room for them. And He loved them. 

Joshua did that too. He chose to notice us. He chose to call us friends. He chose to celebrate our successes, laugh at our mistakes, and hug us tightly before we went our separate ways. That kind of openhearted love is a little piece of heaven here on earth. And that little piece of love walked right into my heart. 

I am so grateful for the example Joshua gave my children. He showed them how easy it can be to make a friend, to welcome someone in, and to be a light to others simply by showing up with joy and an open heart. 

I think we often expect the moments that change us to arrive dramatically. We look for God in the enormous, life changing experiences. But He is just as present in the ordinary ones. In the people we weren’t expecting, in the interruptions we could easily overlook, and in a stranger who decides that we are no longer strangers. Even on a pirate miniature golf course in Florida. 

Joshua walked directly into my path of becoming that day. And thankfully, for just a moment, my heart was open enough to recognize it. 

Thank you, Joshua, for your friendship. For your laughter. For your hugs. For your brilliant mind and your beautiful light. Thank you for reminding me that there is tremendous joy in simply making room for another human being. 

And God, thank you for placing Joshua directly in my path. Thank you for helping my heart be vulnerable enough, still enough, and open enough to recognize what he was there to teach me.

Because for one ordinary afternoon on a pirate golf course, Joshua reminded me what becoming looks like. 

It looks like bright colored golf balls and pirate ships. It looks like my children laughing with new friends. It looks like loving a stranger and sharing our light. 

It looks like Joshua!