Stoplights, Intersections, and Sharing Space

On intersections

“Do you have a moment?” asked bird.

“I do,” replied bear. “Can I share it with you?”

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📷: Passages II, Orbit, The Wren, Petrol Flash, Evergreen, Daisy, and Blue Moon Rising
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intersection. n. a place or area where two or more things (such as streets) intersect.

intersect. v. to meet and cross at a point; to share a common area; to pierce or divide by passing through or across.

“One, two, three.”

These days, when a traffic light turns green here in Portland, I count to three.

It wasn’t always this way.

I used to put foot to gas pedal the second it turned green.

Green means go, right?

But recently, too many cars seem to be running red lights. And the accidents have been particularly bad.

Where are we all going so fast?
When did waiting our turn become so untenable?

“To meet and cross at a point.”
“To share a common area.”

To meet. To share.
To meet. To share.

“Hi, my name is Mark. I love kung pao, Howler Brothers shirts, and sometimes I feel like crying for no discernible reason. I’m scared for our world and that feels really heavy. I’m happiest on a bike. Oh, and I think there are few things better than a mid-afternoon nap. What’s your story?”

Because you have one. And she has one. And they have one.

But when that guy barrels through the intersection seconds after the light has turned red, it’s easy to forget this.

We’re all headed somewhere. And those places could be very different.

But we’re all headed there in these human bodies. With hearts and minds. And, yes, stories.

I’ll stop for you. And listen.

Can you do the same?

Can you think of a place where your path intersects another’s that could benefit from more compassion or grace, for your self or that other?