The build-up:
After meeting with Henry for teammate time, I came to the BSU to do some reading. I entered the building at 3:40, and was immediately accosted by Ashley and Manda. They had ridden to work together, then loaned their vehicle out and desperately wanted to catch Sonic’s Happy Hour, which ends at 4:00 pm. So we jumped in my car and flew to the Nifong Sonic (which is the furthest away from the BSU, but also has the best service). We got our drinks and headed back.
The sight:
We had turned up a busy street near campus and were passing a line of traffic. We passed a green van in which was sitting a woman who was shouting and looking out towards the cars behind us. I have no idea what she was saying (if she was even saying anything). She could’ve been singing along to a song, yelling at kids in the backseat or at another driver, or suffering from turrets. Or any number of other possibilities.
I was struck by how many people live in Columbia… how many I don’t even know. Thousands upon thousands of persons who live and love and breathe and exist with problems and joy and moment after moment of life that I’ll never see. And that’s just in this town (that, after all, is relatively small). My brain isn’t big enough to comprehend more than the smallest fraction of these persons (at a generous estimate, I’m connected to 500 persons between my church and campus ministry – that’s half of a percent of everyone in Columbia not on football weekend).
I have enough problem loving one or two other persons beyond myself (my roommate, my teammate, my girlfriend… aaaaah!), let alone an enitre city (world!) of Others. It makes me appreciate God a lot more. I hope that I may continue to grow in love for him and for those who surround me. Whether they’re yelling at me or not 
As the most lovable and cuddly person you know, I am offended that I did not make the short list. But I’m linking to you on my blog anyway.