Every now and then, I have a random encounter with someone who knocks my philosophical socks off. These moments can completely throw me off track for days and influence me forever, but I wouldn't trade a single one of them for anything in the world. They are priceless gifts from my fellow human beings. Most of the time, these beings do not know me and never will. I read their words or hear them via radio or TV recordings, and they have already moved on with their lives, never knowing just what havoc they are going to wreak with mine. Other times, I am so moved or unnerved, that I feel compelled to reach out to them. I want to know more.
Case in point, I was driving down Rivers Avenue in North Charleston, SC, returning from my lunch break and listening to SC Public Radio as I often do. A charming southern drawl reaches out to me over the airwaves quoting someone as I'm trying to navigate the infuriating madness that is Rivers Avenue at high noon. I've missed the first part of the radio segment, and these are the last words this voice says. He's quoting someone, saying something like, "It is well to remember that, but for one trifling exception, the entire universe is full of others." Well…. If I could have come to a dead stop on Rivers without risking life and limb, I would have. I thought, "Wow!" I need to get out there and get to know those "others"! The universe is FULL of them! The only people I typically get remotely involved with are neighbors and co-workers. So I set off on a new quest to get to know more people, the first one being the fellow with those southern, dulcet tones reaching out over the airwaves to me. After an inquiry with the public radio station, I found that he was none other than Pat Jobe, author and philosophical commentator extraordinaire. The person he was quoting was John Andrew Holmes. If you get a chance, do pick up one of Pat's books off Amazon.com or catch one of his sermons at the local Unitarian or other progressive churches in town. Anyway, we've met face-to-face and have kept in touch ever since. Thank you, Pat, for being there that day and every day since.
I am happy to report that I have several new friends and acquaintances in no way related to my usual day job as a result of that fateful, lunch-time drive on Rivers Avenue. And I don't plan on slowing down anytime soon! So I highly recommend getting out there and getting to know some more of those 'others.'
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