By Carol Bolden

It was in the heat of the day that the three strangers drew near Abraham’s tent. The conversation that ensued involved the safety or destruction of an entire city.

They met on a road, the two men distraught after a traumatic weekend, the Man who joined them the risen Savior. The conversation that followed revealed Scripture in a way the two men had never before understood.

Meeting at the village gathering place for water, the five-time divorcee and the Savior of the world made a connection that led to the evangelization of her town.

Not every conversation with a stranger is as meaningful as these examples, but even a quick exchange in a Costco check-out line can be rewarding and could even lead to the transformation of a life. We were made to be relational. In fact, these types of exchanges are some of the great perks of life. People can be, in turns, inspiring, comforting, affirming, open- hearted, and generous. Yes, that’s not always the case, but I’ve made so many positive connections in my travels around the United States with husband these past several months And who knows when a divine appointment has been planned for you? Conversations give us the opportunity to connect with people of other religions, countries, races, and communities. They build bridges toward peaceful, rewarding relationships that create bonds. Our relational God gives us opportunity to connect in mutually satisfying ways.

I met an open-hearted woman in Grand Coulee, Montana, while attending a very small church of just six people. All were friendly, but one woman, the speaker for the day, spent time talking with me and praying for my needs. I was touched.

In Lewiston, Idaho, in a much larger church of around 150 members, I enjoyed an affirming exchange with a woman who taught the Sabbath School class. As she shared personal stories that enhanced the lesson, I interacted during the class and afterward told her how much I appreciated her teaching. “I think we could be friends,” she said. “I was thinking the same thing,” I responded. It was a beautiful connection.

Ninety-three-year-old Betty at the Prescott, Arizona, church was an inspiring connection. She wields a hammer, I was told, like she’s 30. She just finished building a wall at the end of her porch and she still climbs a ladder! Sitting beside her in a Sabbath School class, I marveled at her spirit. She was deter- mined to live fully till the end, whenever that might come.

Another open-hearted connection happened at Fort Peck Downstream Campground where we befriended a couple traveling by converted van. Together, we walked around the campground sharing good conversation about life. When they left, they invited us to enjoy their photoblog as we hugged, thankful to have met.

It’s good to experience both the giving and the receiving of generosity.

A couple near Coulee Dam joined us at our outdoor picnic table one evening after they pulled into the campsite next to us and joined us again in our motorhome the next morning for animated conversation. Before leaving, they invited us to park in their driveway when we reached western Washington. Such generosity from a brand-new acquaintance!

Near the beginning of our journey, a young man in Pierre, North Dakota, pulled into the campsite next to ours on his motorcycle. When I realized the next morning that he would probably have to find a restaurant in order to eat, I invited him to share a hot breakfast with us. It was a wonderful opportunity to enjoy young thinking with someone at the beginning stages of life’s decision-making and a way to pass on the generosity we have received.

Like the early church, we are more likely to find the richest benefits in smaller groups than in large congregations. They give us the opportunity to demonstrate and receive God’s love. When we are forgiven by someone, we feel God’s love. When we are appreciated by someone, we feel God’s love. Every day, we’re given opportunities to be a stand-in for God.

“If only we could sense how important we are to the lives of those we meet; how important we can be to people we never dream of. There is something of yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person,” said Fred Rogers, that gentle man who loved relating to children.

Once there was a young boy who wanted to meet God. He knew it was a long trip to where God lived, so he packed his suit- case with Twinkies and root beer and started on his journey. His dad always told him that he spent time with God whenever he went fishing so the boy figured he should walk along the shoreline to find God’s home.

After a while, he met an old woman who was sitting on a bench on the shore watching the seagulls. He sat down next to her and opened his suitcase and was about to take a drink of his root beer when he noticed that she looked hungry, so he offered her a Twinkie. She smiled at him and accepted. Her smile was so pretty that he wanted to see it again so he offered her a root beer. Again, she smiled and accepted. The boy was delighted. They sat there all afternoon eating and smiling, but neither said a word.

As it grew dark, the boy became tired and got up to leave. But before he left, he gave the old woman a long hug and she gave him another giant smile. When the boy returned home, his mother was surprised by the look of pure joy on his face. “What did you do today that made you so happy?” she asked. “I had lunch with God,” he replied. But before his mother could respond, he said, “You know what? She’s got the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen!”

Meanwhile, the old woman returned to her home full of joy. Her daughter was stunned by the look of peace on her face and asked her, “Mom, what did you do today that made you so happy?” She replied, “I ate Twinkies at the beach with God.”

Both were a stand-in for God that day.

As a young person, I was extremely shy and found it painful to hold a conversation with strangers. I mostly avoided people when I could. In my early 20s, I decided to make a change and put forth the effort to connect with people. That’s when I realized that other people can be shy too and that greeting people in passing was a good way to connect. So, I made the decision to be friendly regardless of the response. It was the beginning of being set free of my shy- ness. It didn’t happen overnight, but it was a beginning. In embracing and welcoming others, we create community. In letting go of the familiar and embracing the not-yet-familiar, we find commonality.

Life begins at the end of our comfort zone and it’s a life worth living.

–Carol Bolden is traveling through the United States in a motorhome with her husband Thom. Read her blog: (https://outlookmag.org/off-to-see- america-traveling-by-motorhome/). She was communication assistant at RMC until her retirement in August 2019. Email her at: [email protected]