Over the last two months, I’ve met with a lot of people. All sorts of people, from a lawyer to a nun. Some are my age, and some could be my grandparents. In fact, some where my grandparents. Employed, unemployed, retired. People I know, and people I didn’t know until I set up the meeting. Individuals from diverse backgrounds and walks of life. But one thing they all have in common: They willingly chose to meet with me and hear about what I’m doing.
Hopefully, my story has had some impact on their lives, their view of the world, or their understanding of ministry. Their stories have certainly impacted me.
Every story offers a gift to the listener. The gifts of wisdom and understanding are found in some, those of strength and perseverance in others. And although I’m getting ready to move far away, I hope to keep hearing these stories, and to continue to learn from them.
I’m compiling a virtual rolodex of all the people whom I meet. But not just of names, numbers and addresses, but of experiences. I’m almost certain the answer to any question can be found in this network of people. Off the top of my head, I know whom I could turn to with a health question, for relationship advice, or a theological query. I also know where I’d go to find sympathy during culture shock, sage counsel concerning finances, or just to talk about pop culture and television shows. I even know whom to ask if I have car trouble (which won’t be a problem once I’m overseas, since I won’t have a car).
The point is, God has blessed me enormously through the people I know and am getting to know. Marcia Malzahn, in her book “The Fire Within,” says this concerning spiritual gifts: “[God] distributes His gifts […] among all His people, so that we need each other and will work together,” (pg. 4). I would say the same about experiences. The more I meet with people, the more I learn, the more I know I’m not alone, and never will be. No man is an island. Sorry, Simon & Garfunkel.
Works Cited
Malzahn, M. (2015). The Fire Within. Maple Grove, Minnesota: Malzahn Publishing.