I do not think that either individual is aware of the strength they have given me. They did not do anything that directly influenced events in my life. While our paths have crossed, our interactions are not the key. Their actions with others have touched me from the inside out.
The particulars are not unique. Their stories are repeated in the lives everywhere. One is grabbling with the uncertainty of aging parents, dysfunctional siblings, and working away from their natural community. The other is facing the unknowns of multiple dimensions; personal career prospects as well as the partner’s, crumbling relationships in the lives of loved ones, and the uncertainties of fragile bodies.
The reason I am changed lies in their reactions to life. In each situation, they have reached for hope. With every uncertainty, they have chosen to act in the belief that they can make a positive difference. In tears, they walk on. In fear, they act. In the face of overwhelming odds, they hold Hope’s hand.
I watch in awe. I do not know where there strength comes from, but I want some of it. I do not understand how their eyes are able to twinkle with hope, yet I find myself looking through them. I know they struggle in the darkness of the night.
I find myself energized by their reactions to life. Their witness to the potential in a given moment is powerful. I have heard others describe something similar. One writer captured a particular moment. “Paul went down, stretched himself on him, and hugged him hard. ‘No more crying,’ he said.” (Acts 20.10) I often wondered how those present understood the scene at the time. I have a sense of the powerful touch Paul had on others because of the influences in my life.
The upcoming week is filled with unknowns and uncertainties. I have no idea how I should respond. There are no obvious answers. Textbooks will not provide detailed instructions. I do know that if I take the models I have witnessed with me, the path will become clear.
