This is the second story in my series about the random intersection of lives. Our paths intersect with other people’s paths and this sometimes leads to opportunity. My first story was a runner’s story but we cross ways with souls no matter how we’re moving.
The free Continental breakfast offered at many American motels is the modern version of Canterbury Tales. Chaucer’s characters were on a pilgrimage and their life stories and personalities met as they progressed toward their destination. At the hotel breakfast bar, travelers usually don’t have the same destination, but they do have being on the road in common. Fairly easily, I’ve observed, folks tend to talk over the cheap pastries and boxed cereal; stories emerge.
We were out of town overnight, taking advantage of the free breakfast in the lobby, when I began to catch on to a conversation near me. I much prefer people watching over the din of TV’s streaming network news. Two travelers struck up a conversation. The one, whom I will call a Listener, asked the other about her travels. She responded by saying that her son and his girlfriend had been in a motorcycle accident. The Mother’s son was transported to the nearby university hospital and she was staying at the motel in order to visit her son. The Listener took very serious interest in the Mother’s story. She dug up all the information about the crash and the injuries sustained. The Mother shared the involved story without hesitation. I imagine that being away from home, she hadn’t had anyone to talk to in person about the accident, except busy hospital staff.
Then the Listener’s husband showed up at breakfast. The Listener immediately began to recount the Mother’s saga to him. In great detail, she filled him in on the Mother’s situation staying at the hotel and explained the son’s injuries. At one point I saw her pointing to her leg, verifying with the Mother, the son’s condition. Repeating the story with such passion and detail validated the Mother’s distress and communicated tremendous empathy.
At this point, it was time for us to leave and continue our journey. I was left wondering why the Listener had stepped into the Mother’s story. The Listener, while clearly the personable type, did not strike me as nosy. Her chattiness seemed genuine and she really did focus on all that the Mother had been through. I did not get to see the end so I don’t know if the Listener got involved at a more material or spiritual level but I am sure that the Mother left the breakfast bar full, not just from breakfast, but satisfied because someone cared enough to hear her heart.
The Bible says we are to “mourn with those who mourn” (Romans 12:15) and that is just what the Listener did for the Mother. Tears often draw tears from others. We are sensitive to loss and we express sympathy. But that Scripture text begins with the words “Rejoice with those who rejoice” (Romans 12:15). It is not so easy to join in the happiness and success of others, especially if things aren’t going well for us. I recall my Pastor sharing about this difficulty. As an infant, his daughter developed a severe and life-threatening condition. He and his wife saw many specialist doctors and he told how in one waiting room, they conversed with another family. The other family had come for a follow-up appointment after their child had recovered. My pastor told how hard it was to rejoice with them when the outcome had not been the same for his suffering daughter.
As our paths cross with the lives and stories of others, we will encounter both their joys and sorrows. God asks us to join them in the moment. Be hopeful too, that God will send you sojourners to share your paths of joy or sorrow.
For another story where distressed travelers encountered Someone who cared, see Luke 24: 13-35.
