The Little Ballerina

The other day I was playing music on the famed Via dei Fori Imperiali. Surrounded by thousands of years of history, and perched below a Caesar, I stood to make my own declaration - one of peace and love through music.

I am always impressed by the people that come by to hear me perform – those who stop with a willingness to listen. As they open their hearts to me, it augments my desire to reciprocate. Sometimes, these people will give back through sharing the love and emotion they experience through tangible in action.

When we create together, something beautiful happens.

My co-creation that day happened to be with a little girl, 2 or 3 years old. I watched and played as her mother got off her bike, and gently took her daughter out of the child's seat. No later than when those two little feet hit the ground, did they rush over to start dancing along to my music. This little blonde, curly-haired ballerina with the big blue eyes was sharing in the love I was trying to give, and giving back in her own way - dancing freely along to the sound of the music. The beautiful part is the experience wasn't just for her and me. The infectious joy sparked by our creative exchange was transmitted to passersby, stopping people in their tracks and bringing smiles to their faces. I think the large smile on the face of this little one summed up the experience for all, and it is etched in my memory. It felt like a familial exchange.

The pair were from the Ukraine, displaced by the war, and the mother had a visibly heavy heart. However, she had clearly embodied a life of sacrifice, seeking to bless her daughter and expose her to beauty despite the trials. I believe that her difficulties created space for an even deeper encounter with love. How much brighter do lights shine in the darkness?

Despite her suffering, she realizes that her life is not about her. She is able to offer to her daughter, and partake in, a deeper experience of love here in poverty than could be had in comfort. That is, she puts first that which matters most – the other. What the mother provides for her daughter during these times nurtures a propagation of love that will continue to form this little ballerina for years to come. She will grow up with greater confidence and faith, having experienced great love in times of great difficulty.