Chapter 11 – The magic of strangers: A collection of thoughts

What if

The lightning illuminated the clouds before you?

The sunset silhouetted the mountains behind you?

The fireflies brightened the summer-storm fog between you (and the two)?

What if

You met a new friend everywhere you went?

You emerged laughing after falling into a waterfall?

You stumbled upon live music at the local brewery?

What if

You believed in magic (hiding in plain sight)?

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There is a certain magic of the world –

it is hidden, in strangers.

It waits for us, glimmering, flickering, begging us to see.

A glance, an exchange – mouths open, as if to speak –

but wait, don’t.

“Are you afraid?” the silence asks.

“‘Tis nothing but a moment in time –

What harm? What loss? What if?” she sings, cajoles.

Another glance. Eyes down. Considers. Afraid.

Feeble.

The moment, “is it gone?” you wonder.

Imagine: a cacophonous restaurant.

Dishes clanging, laughs abounding, delights floating.

The waitress, “I brought you the biggest slice (of chocolate cake) –

are you in school, hon?”

Another, on a mountain:

“A riddle in exchange to pass!” (Excuse me?)

Me: “…is life the pursuit of happiness or purpose?”

Stares. Ponders. Questions – “Are you in school?”

Inside me, an idea.

Easier and easier it becomes.

A glance, a smile, a comment –

there is magic in that moment –

a momentous moment: do they need you, or you them?

But really, who sees who?

What if the magic is:

You. can. be. anyone.

Start with the kindness, the naivety, the courage of “hello.”

A lesson, a story, a voice, a life-changing moment,

In wait.

And in Greensboro –

 “Hey, I know you! Your hair – wait – you run, I’ve seen you!”

A deep breath, a flutter of excitement –

the magic, it’s found you. A smile and:

“Hi, I’m Jade! It’s nice to meet you.”

And so it begins,

the magic of a stranger.

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Notes:

1. I have been thinking about this concept of the magic of strangers for a while. In fact, I was scrolling through one of my Spotify playlists and stumbled upon this podcast episode, an episode I saved back in February of 2021. The episode is entitled The Lost Joys of Talking to Strangers and was hosted on NPR.
2. I’ve consumed a lot of other material and thoughts on this topic since saving the above episode. Clearly it has been sitting in my unconscious brain, a little package awaiting my return, my unwrapping. Well, I’ve returned! The other day, as in days before publishing this chapter, I stumbled upon another podcast episode, the link is here. This one is called Joe Koehane on the power – and magic – of strangers (fitting for this chapter, huh?), and is hosted by Traci Ruble over on Sidewalk Talk. If you have not heard about Sidewalk Talk, check out the website here and the podcast here, and then drop me a note – I would love to know what you think! One other thought while on the tangent of this note: this episode, oddly enough, was published on my birthday. It fell a few days after I had had a magical day with someone who once was a stranger to me, and someone who actually inspired the first collection of thoughts on this post.

Enjoy! ☀