Stranger Encounters

The Beauty of Serendipitous Conversations

I have had several strangers reach out to me over the last couple of months. And no, not the typical onslaught of incessant and nonstop phone calls and emails I get daily from companies trying to sell me marketing packages and national television appearances for my books. Side note: Despite blocking, reporting as spam, and deleting the phone numbers, it is amazing how many different numbers these spammers from the same companies have access to! So, I never, never, never answer my phone unless the call is from someone in my contacts.

Even more, I have become especially hesitant and reluctant with people when they DM me on social media or email me. I have built up some necessary boundaries over the years to protect myself. I know that I too easily say yes to people when I get requests. And I can extend myself to my own detriment. So, I am extraordinarily cautious when I get messages from strangers that want to get together or meet up on Zoom.

But I have had some time on my hands over the last few months, which has caused me to be more willing to extend myself without sacrificing my well-being. Really quick, I am not advocating that anyone meet up with strangers. I did my due diligence by checking out their connections and social media accounts. I felt comfortable that I wasn’t going to be robbed at gunpoint or scammed once I joined the video call.

But I digress.

I ended up meeting with three different people. And I have to tell you, I am better for extending myself. One guy wanted to talk about my writing and how he was processing it and working through some things in his past. Another guy wanted to find out how he might go about writing a book. While my meager offering about writing and books was anything but exciting, I was deeply moved by his story of running across the United States to raise money and awareness for veterans and suicide. His story was so compelling it nearly brought me to tears. And lastly, I talked to another guy who has a passion for the Church rediscovering its identity and purpose in the world. As someone who has been hanging on the fringes of church for a while, I have been inspired by his spirit and unwavering commitment as we have continued to talk multiple times.

Obviously, this is another lesson in personal growth and how unexpected encounters can expand our perspectives and honor the intrinsic value of human connection. And I know you’ve heard that from me many times. So instead, I want to conclude by focusing on the hope these unexpected encounters have given me. Like my Uber driver, I too am uncovering a profound truth- the majority of people are very good and doing amazing things in this world. But many times, we have to extend ourselves to realize it.

Question

1. In what ways have I allowed my boundaries to protect me, and in what ways might they be limiting my growth or connections with others?

Peace,

Brandon