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There's something intrinsically wonderful and interesting about strangers.
For starters, strangers most often don't look just like you. Refreshing, it is, after days, months, years in the mirror with one's own mug.
I find a new set of facial features to be a key ingredient for an encounter blissfully free of expectations. Nothing is familiar, so any good thing is possible.
Fully engaged in the mysteries of their own lives, strangers will still often stop to address you - a smile, a mouthed hello...an opened door at Starbucks that could have easily closed behind them.
Strangers are thrown into the salad of your day, and the neat thing is: you get to decide what to make of the situations; of the strangers themselves - ignore completely, or engage - and both are equally acceptable social responses.
Isn't that neat? The very 'choosing' being ok? Our simple need for occasional quiet can swathe the blatant disregard of strangers with all the political correctness in the world.
Yet it's fun how the connectedness of us all, the very grace of God can hit you when a stranger points out that you have a low tire, or twelve sheets of Quilted Northern Ultra Plush stuck to your shoe.
Little gifts of awareness.
And then there are strangers to whom we are rather magnetically drawn - inexplicable, powerful recognitions we find in another face that actually require a decision on our part.
We were just there, doing our thing, and poof - opportunity we can sense with our own rising pulse sets in, in the face of a stranger. And its often not even a physical/amorous-type attraction - it's a living connection.
Suddenly, a flower of our life that we didn't even know existed has the ability to unfurl, unfold, let its very hair down and run, grinning, smack into the field of our own destiny.
If. We. Ourselves. Will. First. Open. Up.
Just the thought of that happening makes me want to get good sleep tonight.
I don't want to miss meeting a new friend, and the doors that open every time that happens. I absolutely savor running my fingers across the beautifully hand-carved entrances that open out onto the best adventures of my life. Or the new wisdom. Yum.
I was reminded of that phenomena this year on Easter Sunday. After having brunch with a friend's family, I stepped into the restroom of their country club, nearest the front doors.
There, I encountered a woman at the vanity with whom I felt compelled to speak - and, specifically, I knew I was to compliment her ivory necklace. I didn't know exactly why yet - the piece of jewelry was wonderful, certainly - beaded, with an ornate oval pendant - but I felt like God was telling me to talk to the woman about it. Now.
So, while washing my hands, I told her how beautiful her necklace was, and smiled. She, approximately 80, petite, with thick silver hair in natural waves, solid features and blue-pool eyes, smiled back at me, said thank you, and then paused. So, I paused, too. (I'm learning to do that lately.)
She then told me that the necklace was one she had purchased in China, many years ago. She had watched the craftsman make the pendant, carving its intricate pattern with the tiniest of hand tools. I suddenly felt like I was there beside her, watching it all happen. Her necklace. Her memories. We might have been about the same age.
It was my first, umm...trip to China.
We returned to the mirror, to Easter, to present-day when she shared that the necklace was very special to her. And she then smiled the smile of a woman with satisfying moments in her heart and chapters of depth.
I was so fortunate to see that happen.
Our interaction reminded me to live my own vibrant life, to allow myself a few sentimental things to hold onto as I age (glass of cab in one hand, token of adventure in the other, warmth in my heart)...and to not be afraid to stop and talk to strangers. Anytime, anywhere.
Often, we need to learn something right now if we're to make pliable the potential of tomorrow and forward.
What's your ivory necklace that reminds you of chances taken and sweet rewards?
Who's your stranger today?
Love,
-Melinda
Illustration Credit: Keiko Nakabachi/Imagezoo/Getty Images
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