It’s not that I am lazy or that I don’t have plenty to write about this week; it’s just that I am inspired by so many people, particularly my friends who have already joined me at The Intersection of Purpose & Now.

Today, I am sharing something from my good friend and fellow blogger Brian McDermott, a principal with GrowthWorks Inc., near Minneapolis. He, the tragic yet inspiring story about his niece, Ciara, and her favorite poem by e.e. cummings, all remind me of my search to experience 5 Recordable Positive Interactions each day. Although Brian and I mostly interact via email, the web and sometimes by phone these days, it is always – most definitely – a positive interaction.

Here is Brian’s post for the day:

Just over three years ago, my niece, Ciara, was the victim of a murder-suicide. Today is her birthday.

If Ciara were alive she would be 34, and I have no doubt she would be continuing to do the amazing things she was doing as a police officer — at that time working in a high school — to make her part of the world a better place for those she touched.

I’ve begun working on a book to tell her story because… The night after Ciara’s murder, 1200 high school kids turned out for a student-organized vigil. I was staggered by that response. The high school principal confirmed for me that this was an extraordinary response. “You don’t get 1200 high school kids to do anything,” he said… And this was just the first of many reactions that convince me there is an important, helpful story to tell.

Ciara was also a gifted writer and a poet. Her favorite poem was I Thank You God for this Amazing Day by e.e. cummings. We shared it at her memorial service and I want to share it here with you to help mark this day as special.

I thank You God for most this amazing day:
For the leaping greenly spirits of trees
And a blue true dream of sky
And for everything which is natural which is infinite which is yes

(I who have died am alive again today,
And this is the sun’s birthday;
This is the birthday of life and love and wings
And of the gay great happening illimitably earth)

How should tasting touching hearing seeing breathing
And — lifted from the no of all nothing — human merely being
Doubt unimaginable You?

(Now the ears of my ears awake and
Now the eyes of my eyes are opened)

e.e. cummings

This is the beginning of trying to share the story of someone who made a difference.
Happy Birthday, Ci.
Brian