Hello Human

A short reminder

A Thing For Me To Read When I Need Reminding What Silly, Sacred Things We All Are, Because I Will Forget

Humans are silly things. 
We tug on doors clearly marked push. 
We name our cars and shout at toasters. 
We save twisty-ties from bread bags, 
because, you know, just in case … 

We’re sometimes overthinking, sometimes thoughtless. 
Sometimes standing in line rehearsing what we’ll say when it’s our turn, 
and then blurting out something else entirely. 
We search the fridge for what isn’t there, 
and then search again,
because, you know, just in case …

We are ridiculous. 

And yet . . . 
the same hands that drop phones in toilets 
also cradle newborn heads. 
The same mouths that mispronounce quinoa with confidence 
can whisper prayers and sing lullabies. 

Ridiculous and astonishing. 
I know. I don't get it either. 

And here’s the great mystery,
the ridiculous, astonishing truth: 
we silly things are built for connection. 
For each other. 

We are cellos meant for symphonies. 
We are sparks meant for bonfires. 
Puzzle pieces that only reveal the picture 
when we find each other’s edges. 

And yet, we live on the edge. 
Disconnected. 
Fractured in a world  
splintering into camps and corners, 
breaking into loud noises and quieter despairs.
Some aim to keep us there, 

but if you listen..

undernearth, behind, beyond the clangs 
there is a steady hum, reminding us: 
we need each other. 
Not cleverness, not power, not speed
What we need 
are the silly things right in front of us,
the ridiculous and the astonishing.
And I know it's not what you want to hear.
And I realize it's not ideal. 
And I agree that it might sound overly simple and maybe it is 
or maybe we just make it overly hard, 

Still, I bring before you
a silly idea 
that maybe the answer lies in strange, simple, stubborn acts 
like reaching for one another in the dark

and finding, 
miracle of miracles …  
a hand reaching back. 

because,
you know… just in case. 

thanks friends.

i’m really glad you’re here.

1. ON THE ROAD. Kristi and I are in Columbus, Ohio this week for school visits, including a mega Fail-a-Bration and a super epic storytime at the libary. Let us know in the comments if you have recommendations for us while we’re in town. We’d love to hear them!

2. COME HANG OUT! Story Conference is just a few weeks away, October 9-10 in Nashville. Just a few tickets remain. Register here.

3. SPROUT NEWS! Zip and the Tiny Sprouts is the award-winning preschool series I helped develop and some fun things are brewing with it + WildBrain Studios. The Floor is Lava is one of my new favorite episodes. Watch it even if you’re not in preschool. The show and books and shirts and plushies are here.

P.S. If you’d like to listen to a version of the above, here it is!