Perfect Strangers
Perfect strangers - People who’ve never met. Yet, their paths cross, unexpectedly, at the same
location, at the same time, as if destined to collide, significantly impacting outcomes and gently changing lives.
Burrowed under a warm down comforter on a frigid January morning, one by one, alarm clocks beeped, bringing the entire first floor of the student residence to life. With muffled voices, slippered feet pitter-pattered down the hallway, heading to the showers to jumpstart the day. I couldn’t begin to think about leaving my cozy little nest. Not yet.
A knock on the door, along with an invitation to breakfast, slowly stirred my dull senses to life. Copious amounts of hot coffee lured me out into the Arctic outdoors where I made my way to the dining hall. The main topic of conversation that frosty morning was the falling snow and who was going to class and who wasn’t. It was my second semester at a university in the Mid-West known for its cold windy winters where snow drifts pile high.
Of all mornings, I had a quiz in my Psychology class. Could I miss this and still get a decent grade for the semester? Weighing my options, I reluctantly resisted the temptation to remain snuggled-up in the dorm drinking even more coffee. “No,” I told myself. “I cannot cut class.” Cutting class was for the faint of heart. And at this juncture in my life, I needed to have a brave heart. Single-mindedly, I steeled myself. I took the next step, said the next yes and went to class.
Trading the comfort of my room for academic excellence, I put my hair in a pony-tail and headed out the door. A gust of bone chilling air immediately jolted me out of any remaining sleepiness. Shivering, I sniffled a few times and adjusted my black earmuffs and fur lined gloves. Not to be dissuaded, I made my way to the center of campus where the historic building, home to all things science, awaited.
Despite the numbing cold, the campus was beautiful in its bleakness. While the trees slumbered, snow quietly fell. Snow on snow. Tiny tuffs of cotton snowflakes kissed my cheeks. Invigorated by the smell of crisp fresh air, I pushed myself as far as I could, until I couldn’t go any further. I almost made it to the science building when the wheels of my wheelchair buried deep in the snow, spinning in place with each push. The harder I pushed, the deeper I sank. My suddenly not-so-brave heart sunk along with it, as I began to realize I was paralyzed in more ways than one. I was completely unable to move.
It was obvious from the small number of people out and about, the sensible students stayed home that morning. “What was I thinking? Why did I think I could do this?,” I asked myself. A year earlier, a horseback riding accident left me a paraplegic. Embracing my new disability with a sense of adventure, I tried not to back away from a challenge. There are unlimited and untold treasures to be discovered in the darkness if we make the choice to look for them. But maybe this time I went too far. I put myself in a potentially dangerous situation with temps below freezing and my inability to feel my feet. If my toes ended up frostbitten, I wouldn’t know it. Perhaps this was not the day to prove my tenacity.
Alone and wondering how I was ever going to get out of this situation, I felt a sense of peace wrap itself around me, as if I was being hugged by a warm covering. Gazing up at the chalky sky, dancing snowflakes landed on my eyelashes as I rested in the quiet stillness of the white blanketed campus. The Artist of this enchanting winter scene is right here. I can feel His presence. I may have felt alone, but as sure as each day awakens and the morning sun rises, I knew I wasn’t.
Before long, two students trudging their way to class noticed I was stuck in the snow. They ran over to help me as fast as they could. Two strong, handsome able-bodied men. Both dressed in warm winter gear, with boots that sank down to the sidewalk with every step. Neither one of them looked familiar. I had no idea who they were and they certainly didn’t know me. Yet, this didn’t stop them from jumping in and helping me out of a bad situation. “Do you mind if we pick you up and carry you into the building? It’s not that far.”
Without hesitating, they each picked a side of my wheelchair and lifted it up out of the snow, with me in it. I felt myself rocking back and forth as they put one foot in front of the other. “Don’t worry. We’ve got you!” Unfaltering, they carried me to the building. The wheelchair accessible ramp was packed with snow and impassable, so they carried me up the steps. As if this wasn’t enough, when our classes ended, they carried me back down the steps. Deeply humbled and grateful for such a spontaneous, compassionate act of kindness, I couldn’t stop thanking them. They took me to a cleared sidewalk where I made it safely to the bus stop and caught a ride back to my dorm.
Since this snowy day in January, many seasons have come and gone. With the passing of time, I’ve found myself similarly stranded in unexpected circumstances. Not in the snow, but in mishaps which occurred while I was out and about doing everyday, ordinary things. I have dropped groceries all over a parking lot; I’ve taken a tumble out of my wheelchair with my toddler sitting in my lap, leaving both of us sprawled out over the sidewalk; and the number of times I’ve been unable to get into my van because someone parked too close to me are too numerous to count. In each of these situations, without a second thought, people I’ve never met ran head-on into my chaos and helped me out of it.
I’m always amazed by the generosity and empathy of fellow human beings. I’m deeply convinced there are many more good people in the world than there are bad. I don’t remember any names, but I’ve never forgotten the tender-hearted deeds nor random acts of kindness. The right people placed in my path at just the right time. Perfect strangers.
What About You?
Have you ever experienced a time when a perfect stranger helped you out of a difficult situation? If so, recall the incident to a friend.
We tend to think of being on the receiving end of a random act of kindness. Has there ever been a time when you were the one helping someone out of a jam? If so, think about how this made you feel.
If you’re willing, pray for God to give you an opportunity to be a perfect stranger to someone. God’s very good at orchestrating divine encounters when we least expect them. Let God surprise you!
