I love the Netflix Original show “Stranger Things,” a weird science-fiction drama that takes me back to my time of coming of age in the 80’s. The show covers all sorts of strange things that happen after a young boy disappears in a small Indiana town. But when I think of Stranger Things, the TV show or strange things aren’t the first thing to come to mind. I always seem to jump to the conclusion that it’s a call to do things with strangers. That in itself is a pretty strange thing, don’t you think? Trying to live a life where I seek to find the presence of the Divine in all people (which is getting harder to do with the current political climate), I am always on the look out for new ways to engage with someone I don’t know, to learn their story or from their wisdom. Sometimes ideas come from other people. Sometimes from web suggestions, facebook meme’s, or Tweets. And every now and then they appear out of nowhere...like on the wall (ask any Stranger Things fan and they will tell you how powerful and transforming a wall can be). |
Holding hands with a stranger is a pretty strange thing. But powerful to say the least. I recall reading a story in the last few months of an older woman who held the hand of a nervous traveler as the airplane they were on began to experience severe turbulence. That exchange was not only calming for both of them, but it also began a caring relationship that continued long after they safely landed and went on their way. Today, they continue to have weekly phone conversations, and have met each other’s families.
Place your hand on a wall. And have someone you don’t know place there hand next to yours. Is that something you would do? If so, how close would you be? How would you get that person to stop and join you? What would you say, or how would you begin the conversation? What would be your intention, or what would you like to gain from that experience? Too many of us are too afraid to even try, and it makes me wonder what we might be missing out on.
I wanted to give it a try, but my family objected. They were hungry and wanted to go get supper. But now that I know it’s there, I might just have to sneak down the street and give it a try. I’ve got a lot to say, and a lot to learn.
Midici Neapolitan Pizza Co. (MNPC) has not paid me to write about them, but if they would like to I gladly work for pizza. I write about them because out of the many businesses that serve my community, or that produce goods in my country, their vision is inline with what I hold to be true. Everything we do is motivated by our will to make the world a friendlier place...We respect and honor people, food, our planet, Mother Nature, Neapolitan tradition, and we hope to spread those values with every Neapolitan pizza we serve. Live from #MidiCi |