The Lupine Lady

Last week in my TESOL class, I was reminded of a story from my childhood. I don't know about you, but for me books from my first years of reading somehow hold a special place in my heart and evoke emotions and thoughts from me that few other things are able to draw out. The book Miss Rumphius is just one of those stories. Here is an excerpt of the text:

My Great-aunt Alice, Miss Rumphius, is very old now. Her hair is very
white. Every year there are more and more lupines. Now they call her the
Lupine Lady. Sometimes my friends stand with me outside the gate, curious to
see the old, old lady who planted the fields of lupines. When she invites us in,
they come slowly. They think she is the oldest woman in the world. Often she
tells us stories of faraway places.
"When I grow up,"I tell her, "I too will go to faraway places and come
home to live by the sea."
"That is all very well, little Alice," says my aunt, "but there is a third thing
you must do."
"What is that?" I ask.
"You must do something to make the world more beautiful."
"All right, " I say.

The beauty of this text is multi-faceted. First of all, it is well-written. The author, Barbara Cooney, used literary techniques like book-ending and signal words to make this a text that is not only easy for young readers to follow but also subconsciously teaches them higher level writing skills. How crazy is that? As someone who is studying to teach others English, this book has earned my respect. At the same time, this story teaches a simple and yet profound truth: it is the job of each of us to visit the world and do something to make it more beautiful (and I happen to think living by the sea is also a great idea). 

How would the world be different if each of us followed Aunt Alice's advice? As someone who grew up between cultures and wants to continue discovering the world, I can't help but think this is a good idea. Last time I posted, I discussed how God is represented in diversity, and here this theme is coming out again- it seems I just can't escape it! Reading this story inspires me. I want to live like Aunt Alice (and her grandfather)! I want to go to faraway places. I want to live by the sea (preferably Kribi in Cameroun?). I want to do something to make the world more beautiful. I don't know what that will be, but I'm on a journey of discovering what that is. Hopefully, I will have the pleasure of doing more than one thing to make the world more beautiful! 

What about you? Are you traveling to far away places but never forgetting to come back to your roots? What are you doing to make the world more beautiful? I think I'll start by getting some sleep so I do my job well tomorrow :)