At times, people I meet in public spaces, tell me their life story, or at least some of the main points.I have never met these people. It has happened to me in airports, in lines, at public festivals and in coffee shops. Is it something in my face or my eyes or just in my being, that invites people to tell me important parts of their story. I have be told that I listen well, and I am a non-anxious presence . Now my story from the other day.
I ordered my soup and sandwich, and sat down to wait for it to come. I met two former Conrad Grebel College students, and talked with them a bit. When they left, the guy across the counter , came over and looked at my papers . He said, “ are those from Conestoga College ?’ I told him it was not Conestoga, but that I was on the board of Conrad Grebel. It is a Christian college here on the campus of University of Waterloo, I said to him.
For the next fifteen minutes, he outlined his understanding of the Christian faith. He kept saying to me that the two things that you need to be is humble and honest. I did not say anything, partly he did not give me room, but I did not know how to respond. I do not think fast, nor do I think well on on my feet.
He stood over me, telling me in general about his faith. He mentioned that he prays, and that God has always answered his prayers. You have to read the Bible, and believe in the stories, but most important you have to be honest and humble. He seemed to repeat himself often, but I am not sure that this is true.
I was aware that I wanted to leave the coffee shop. I wanted to get out quickly. No, my internal voice said to stay and continue to listen. At some point in his conversation with me, he began to touch my shoulder and chest, after he made a statement. I am not uncomfortable with this, but I am aware when people touch me in this kind of conversation. In his right hand, he had a lighter and a small package of cigarettes, and he used this hand to jab at my chest.
He was smiling for most of the fifteen minutes ( it seemed much longer ), and was very passionate about his personal faith. He must have used the phrase about “ being honest and humble “ about 20 times. He would go farther from me, but then he would return touching my body. Then, another man came in and sat down across from him. He talked to me for a minute more , and then sat down with man. I said thank you and wished him well.
As I went to my meeting, I kept thinking of this man. I wonder if he thought of me at all after our encounter. He was so confident of the one concept that he wanted to communicate with me. He seemed to be eastern European . Maybe he was of the Orthodox faith. I wonder if he thought I had faith at all, or maybe he thought he might have changed my mind. Maybe he prayed for me, and maybe he will continue to pray for me because he did believe in prayer. I wonder if he noticed that I did not say anything, not a word. He seemed to be pleased , at least by the smile on his face. How would the relationship have changed if I would have interrupted him. What question could i have asked him, so that we could have talked with each other ?
This happened at a Williams coffee shop. I will continue to go coffee shops , and will continue to listen, and maybe even speak sometime. I know God was there in this chance meeting of two believers in God.
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 