I attended a safety meeting at the fire department this week. The topic for the evening was: “situational awareness.”  It was an excellent presentation regarding the importance of paying attention at a working scene.  Situations firefighters are called to can present dangers that unfold fast.  The next day I learned that situational awareness is a spiritual discipline as well.

I was enjoying my weekly lunch with my friend, who is well into his 80’s.  It’s a highlight of every week. We eat in the same establishment and we ask “our” waitress which tables she assigned to that day.  After she took our order, I noticed four people sitting in an adjacent booth.  The table was comprised of a man about my age, a woman in her late 20’s, and a small child.  And…there was an elderly lady with them too.  I thought to myself: how nice for this family to take grandma out for a lunch outing.  Thankfully, my situational awareness kicked in quickly. 

The “elderly” lady I observed was a woman who is likely younger than me. She was wearing a scarf around her head.  It appeared to me that she had lost her hair.  I don’t know her story, but I can’t help but wonder if the aftermath of chemotherapy has taken its toll.   My mind started racing from that point forward.  Several things occurred to me.

I realized my capacity to practice situational awareness is seriously lacking.  I need to be more observant of those around me.  At first glance, I saw an elderly woman.  I was quick to reach a conclusion, and of course it was wrong.  In the future, I will pay closer attention. If I have a better grasp of what is really going on with a person, I might actually do a better job of serving their needs at the time.

Situational awareness is a spiritual discipline to practice this year.  We are surrounded by people every single day that have a variety of needs and concerns. We can make a difference, if we pay attention.  Let’s not jump to conclusions too quickly.