It's A Small World After All

The ice cream truck just made himself known on my street. The familiar "It's A Small World" plays over and over drawing us out for that afternoon snack. I often consider running down to see what he has, to try a grape slushy or an ice cream drumstick dipped in chocolate with peanuts. And then I feel silly and remind myself ice cream trucks are for children. But I must admit, I sure do enjoy the song and the surprise of music outside my window late in the day. And don't you love the words?

It's a world of laughter, a world or tears
it's a world of hopes, its a world of fear
there's so much that we share
that its time we're aware
its a small world after all

  its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small world after all
its a small, small world

There is just one moon and one golden sun
And a smile means friendship to everyone.
Though the mountains divide
And the oceans are wide
It's a small small world

Earlier today I was reminded - again - how very small the world is in which we live. A group of mothers who have lost children gather in my home monthly to find encouragement from one another. We share our hopes and fears, we laugh and we shed a few tears. Today, a woman came who had lost a daughter 20 years ago. The child was three months old and died from injuries in a car accident. She was living proof that we do move through grief, find new meaning in life, and function well after loss. We appreciated her perspective.

Every time these women gather, there is another connection, a link to another source of community. And community is what we all want - whether it is in a support group, a newly married couple in a new home, or running into an old friend from years ago.

There is just one golden sun and just one moon - a very large moon these nights.  Mountains do divide us and oceans are very wide. But it is still a small world. We are so very much alike in our hopes and our dreams, in our frailties and in our losses. Why do we try so hard to make the world large and indifferent? Why do we mostly ignore ice cream trucks?