Mister Rogers and the people who make us

A short reflection

Aelbert Cuyp (1620–1691), Dordrecht: Sunrise, ca. 1650, oil on canvas, The Frick Collection

YouTube has what, like at least 100 videos? Well, I know the absolute best one. It’s this:

Mister Rogers is receiving a lifetime achievement award, and he uses his speech to direct the audience to think of the people who have cheered them on.

“Would you just take, along with me, ten seconds to think of the people who have helped you become who you are?”

The story goes that he wanted to provide the audience a longer silence, but the producers wouldn’t let him take that much time.

So Mister Rogers gives them ten seconds and invites the audience to think of the people who helped them; he even offers to keep an eye on the time.

The silence commences, and the camera pans to 90s celebrities slowly being overcome with emotion.

Mister Rogers looks up from his watch, and he says this:

“Whomever you’ve been thinking about, how pleased they must be to know the difference you feel they’ve made.”

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This is a short piece to simply ask you the same question: who are the people who have helped you? Would you take some time and think of them today? Maybe you are at your desk or at home or visiting the doctor or on a vacation. Maybe your life is going swimmingly or painfully or somewhere in between. I don’t know.

But I know you have people. You have that great cloud of witnesses. How have they shown up, and how proud must they be of you? I’m thinking of mine right now.

This random writer on the internet, sitting right now in a coffee shop, is cheering for you.

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Here is my favorite picture on the internet. It is Mister Rogers with his friend, Henri Nouwen:

Salt and Light Stories

is beginning a series about an imagined road trip between these two wonderful humans. I’m excited to follow along!

You Are Special

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