Can’t believe I haven’t posted since the end of October. As much as I love to write, recently it feels burdensome to put down thoughts on paper (so to speak). So much going on in the world, in our lives, that I don’t want to face the emotions that come with writing about it. I admire those who write for a living. Writing takes a lot of emotional strength.
So I mustered up some strength. Before moving on to the main topic, a few words about the every day obstacle that surrounds us all.
In addition to the many specific impacts of Covid, it more generally has created yet another means of division among our country, society, families, businesses, and friends. It is another thing to argue over, another reason for social media pouncers to pounce, another reason to stay away from each other, another reason for hate. It is scary, sad and puts a pit in my stomach.
Now, enough about that craziness.
On a lighter note, I have a couple stories about happy run-ins with strangers. Encounters that warm my heart, making me think and reflect. Hopefully they evoke a positive reaction from you as well.
Mrs. Smiley
This fall my husband and I went away for a weekend to NE Iowa. We were exiting a hiking trail on a beautiful warm afternoon when I see a woman waving at us from the common parking area. She stood there with her husband and young children, dressed in conservative Mennonite clothing. Her bright smile caught my attention just as much as her wave.
I just keep walking, thinking she must be waiving at someone else. As we pass her, she gets in step just behind us and follows us for a few feet. We slow down to think about our next steps when we hear her talking to us from behind.
Intriguing
She has a smile that I won’t forget, and her eyes seriously glitter along with her smile. “I notice your shirts have bible verses on them,” she says, “and your faces shone brightly as you came off the trail.” This lady is so friendly and excited that I listen to her intently, but I am not sure how to respond.
She goes on about the beautiful day and how nice it is to see fellow believers out enjoying the weather. We talk about our t-shirts after she asks about them, explaining where they came from and the purpose for the bible verses. Somewhere in the conversation she confirms that we indeed believe in God, and the light banter turns more serious. She proceeds to warn us about the future. She says that God has spoken to her recently during her devotional time, warning her that there will be political trouble in our country. Things will get worse in terms of violence and hate, and human safety will be compromised. God told her to be sure that her family and other believers are ready for warfare.
Again, I am not exactly sure how to respond to her. I admit to her that I have wondered about the end of times, whether Covid and our untrustworthy politicians are signs of Jesus’ imminent return. She agrees that it is possible, and reminds me to always be ready.
Memorable Chit Chat
She seems willing to talk for hours if we engage her. My husband and I try to keep the conversation a little light, addressing the concerns of the country but also asking where her family is from and what they have done that day. As we wrap up this unusual conversation with this stranger, she thanks us for shining God’s love to those around us, that she can see it radiating from our faces. I tell her it was nice to meet her, and that I appreciate her compliments.
As we walk away from this family, I feel confused but intrigued. The woman referred to our shining faces, but her face was the one that shone. Her eyes and smile told a story all their own. I feel blessed to be singled out by such a bubbly, spiritual woman. And so far, she has been right about our country’s situation getting worse.
Caller Who Gifted A Smile
More recently, I receive a business call at work. We discuss the caller’s reason for calling, and then she pauses. “Before we hang up,” she says, “I want to talk about something personal. Ever since I first met you several years ago, you have seemed familiar to me, like I should know you from somewhere previous. I have tried many times over to place how I might know you, but have never been able to make a connection. Yesterday I stopped by the office, saw you, and it suddenly hit me. It was something about your eyes. You are Sandi’s daughter. “
Pleasantly Taken Aback
It has been almost 15 years since my mom passed away. It isn’t very often anymore that her name gets brought up in casual conversation, especially not in a public setting with someone I don’t know very well. Hearing her name both took me back and warmed my insides.
“You are right,” I reply with surprise. “I have always looked like my mom, so I understand how you might recognize her in me. But it still is heart warming to hear. How did you know her?”
The woman on the other line explains that she worked with my mom many years ago. I believe I would have been in early high school when they worked together, so we are talking around 30 years ago. My mom would have been around my age or younger when they knew each other.
Pleasant Conversation, Pleasant Result
We talk briefly about those days gone by, how long my mom has been gone from this world and how much I still miss her. The caller talks from her own experience, saying there are days when her loved-ones-lost seem like they’ve been gone forever, and days when it seems like they have been gone just a few hours. It just depends on what life brings and whether something pops up that forces your loved one to the fore front of your memory. I agree with her whole heartedly.
When the phone call ends, my smile doesn’t. For a few moments I relive the conversation and soak in the joy. I love the fact that I still look like my mother, enough so that a stranger can connect us, even if it takes years. 🙂 I love that someone still remembers my mom enough to bring up her name almost 15 years after her death. And I love that this stranger had the guts to tell me about her revelation. I am thankful, in fact. Thankful for this stranger and her conversation that brought me joy.
So sweet to read your story. I have a similar one on the recognition from a shirt I was wearing. We were in the Grand Tetons and having truck trouble and ended up in a road side campground in Hatchet, Wyoming. There we were so far from home and in trouble. There was another family camping there with several children. The mom waved at me with a smile. As I waved back, she came over and said she recognized my shirt. The Heart on it said “MOM’s IN TOUCH” at that time. (Now called Mom’s in Prayers I think) It was a prayer group we were both involved in for our children and school. Me in Michigan and her in Laramie , Wy a great distance from each other but both with the same purpose. It was a very blessed conversation we shared.