09/03/2024
One of the many meaningful connections I made this past week was with a gentleman named Timothy, who had traveled to DC with the clothes on his back, a few personal items and his old trusty bicycle.
Every morning at 8am, I would leave the hotel and walk across Mount Vernon Square Park towards the convention center. Every morning, Tim would be there, playing his bagpipe with great passion, precision and joy. Every morning, I would sit in the grass, taking in his soulful music. Every morning, we acknowledged each other with a head nod or simple salute.
After a few days of savoring the beautiful melodies he produced with his breath, his love and his cherished instrument, I felt compelled to approach him. I introduced myself with a huge hug. After all, we were here for the same reason. He is I and I am him.
We embraced and spoke for what seemed like hours. Tim had journeyed from Louisiana to attend the world convention and shared with me some of his struggles, including the heartbreaking loss of his son just a few weeks prior. While I could relate to much of what he shared, the loss of his son is something I can hardly fathom. As a father of two sons myself, it’s a fear that has quietly haunted me since the day they were born.
After connecting deeply, he asked if I could play a song for him. His request was “Gimme Shelter” by The Rolling Stones. I asked if he had ever experienced AirPods Pro with noise cancellation, and when he said no, I cleaned off the silicone tips, placed them in his ears, and pressed play. As the music filled his senses, the world seemed to melt away.
I couldn’t recall ever hearing the song before, but as I watched him sing, dance, and cry, our souls locked in an intense gaze, it felt as though I had heard it a thousand times. During those four minutes and thirty-three seconds, we shared our pain and our relief. It was a powerful reminder that hold on pain ends, that pain shared is pain lessened, that we only have today, and that everything is temporary.
I am extremely grateful to have met Tim. He is, to me, a shining example of The Power of Love.