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2002-09-04

Below is an excerpt from an article I wrote for my company News Letter...

Angels: A Personal Perspective
By: Stephen Walls


I don?t recall ever working for a place as culturally diverse as here in the DC Metro area. I hope that when I ask someone questions about their culture and where they?re from that they understand that I?m asking only out of sheer awe that this planet is as big (?or as small, depending on how you look at it) as it is. I also enjoy embracing other peoples? viewpoints, which is largely why I even bother asking questions in the first place. It?s a firm belief within me that whether I take stock in someone?s opinions or not, there?s always something to learn from them if I just open my heart and my mind.

I read something one time that suggested that angels are merely all people- each intertwining and interacting with in ways that are already pre-destined. If there?s any truth to this, some of us will, as a result of the ties and the bonds that we make here at DC Metro, become long-lasting friends. Others will be just someone we used to know as either we pass on through this place, or they pass through before we do. Each interaction, however, could be argued as something that was meant to happen- with the idea that change, personal progression and a learning experience eventually occur.

I sometimes have trouble with change just as the next person, to be honest. I know what I just said about the necessity of people coming in and out of our lives to assist us in varying degrees, but it gets rough sometimes when that?s all we seem to do is change, especially if there?s no understanding of it?s importance. People come and go- some before I even get to know them, and some without me giving them a chance to know me.

Sometimes, when I?m leaning more toward the thought of this being a ?bigger? planet rather than a ?smaller? one, I draw analogies to life within DC Metro from life in the world- each of us doing the best we can, and within our set belief systems, whether morally, spiritually, or otherwise. When I think that a man clear on the other side of the earth loves his family just as deeply and with as much conviction as I love mine, the aforementioned- though important, seems a bit overshadowed. After all, we all want and need the same basic things in life. I think maybe we should try to remember that ?my? pursuits might not be met with as much enthusiasm as yours, and vice-versa. They may even meet with resistance, but you know what? That?s perfectly ok. Just as we strive to get along here within our extended family at work, should we be able to do the same within the world.

OK, now I have to be totally honest. I didn?t always think this way. There were so many lessons learned from the events from 9/11 and on so many levels, that I?m still trying to neatly categorize it all, and these thoughts largely stem from that single-day. Funny how that?s working out, huh? We innately feel the desire to have a grip on everything we face in life and when it doesn?t we freak. At least I did, ?at least at first, ?and at least until I broadened my mind and began trying a bit of understanding with my heaping-helping of fear and empathy.

At first, when all that had taken place on 9/11 occurred, I was extremely upset and for far more than the obvious reasons. See, I woke up on the morning of 9/11 fully prepared to celebrate my birthday. So for totally selfish reasons, I had a much tougher time grasping those events that took place...just ask my best friend. One year after, my heart still aches for the friends and families and sons and daughters lost, but I?m working on a new angle now?

I have personally chosen to celebrate this day once again, but not as my ?birthday?, as that day has taken on a new level of insignificance in an odd way. Instead, I will set aside this day for the memories of the ?angels? who have touched my life- ?all? of our lives- within that single day through their stories of heroism and the human spirit. As a matter of fact, maybe I should just use that day try to appreciate ?all? of the angels who?ve touched my life in the past, and who will touch my life from now on, whether personally or professionally. Yeah- I think my pursuit for personal and professional growth has just had the bar raised to a new level, and I?m going to do my best to reach it. Well, ?at least I?m going to try.

Stephen Walls