I have been working from a not so secret location this week, on a project I’m not permitted to talk about. One of the many draws to living in the city is access; access to services, access to myriad kinds of people, access to potential community, and access to coffee shops. While in Europe, I would always seek out Starbucks Coffee locations wherever I went. These venues guaranteed three things I like the comfort of: a toilet that works, internet, and baristas who spoke the English language. Now that I am back in Seattle, I still take comfort in these things.
En-route to a number of meetings today, I found myself in an almost alien world for the number of different species of flowering plants there are in Ballard. It is amazing to think that of all God’s creations He takes the most pride in us. And in the city, there are as many kinds of people as there are flowers of the Earth. What can I do to see my fellow man in that way? How can I grow to see budding flowers all around me all of the time?
Perhaps part of that can come from the beauty I find in my friend Stacey. Five years ago we were strangers, between which a friendship would have seemed unlikely. Now she is to me like a rare, sweet rose, the fragrance of which I find calming and a delight even in its absence. As I look around at strangers (everywhere are strangers) can I imagine that in 5 years I would delight in them like I do in her? And then would I love them better?
albaniacalling 
Love you, Josh.