Driving With Strangers

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon as I settled into writing today’s blog. I was just in from driving a kidney dialysis patient to their home. I do this under the umbrella of Dial a Ride - a program that coordinates volunteer drivers with patients in need of assistance with transportation. 

Driving home on this beautiful afternoon, I began to ponder, “Why do I do this?” “What motivates me?”

First I had to make a decision, a choice. To stay home or get involved. To stay with the familiar or embrace a new adventure. Over and over my Spirit chooses the unknown… such as writing this blog. 

When I head out to pick up a patient, I have a name and address. Often I am not familiar with the street or apartment building entrance. Let’s just say I am getting to know a few more streets and communities. 

Driver and passenger are strangers to one another as we meet for the first time when they take a seat in my car. Passengers are trusting me to safely get them to or from their appointments. We trust the program to have completed the proper screening. 

It is a win-win story. The patient receives an affordable friendly drive and I get to meet the most interesting people. I never know what kind of conversation will unfold for indeed everyone has a story.

From the dialysis patients, I hear about the dialysis process, how long it takes, how they feel after the ‘big flush.’ Through talking with strangers, I hear life stories, family stories, far different then mine and yet the same.  All of us trying to make the best of whatever comes our way. 

With each encounter, my horizon is broadened by the life stories of another. For that I am grateful. I am grateful for this curious Spirit that abides within. For when we sit side by side, even if for only a few minutes, I believe there is a connection. 

When trying to decide how best to spend the gift of these days, sometimes I can become stalled in wondering if ‘this,’ whatever the ‘this’ is, is going to be right for me. What is going to happen? Who will be there? And then an inner voice says, “Why not?” you are gifted with a healthy mind and body, you have the resources, so “Why not?” 

Like writer, photographer and activist (and inspiration for today's question) Jan Phillips writes, “I choose… to participate in an event that is going to take me somewhere I’ve never been.”

Whatever motivates you to seek out the unknown, be it intuition or curiosity or rising to the challenge. Call it answering to a higher power like “my mother told me to” or for me, what I believe is a Divine presence within that says, “Yes.” Or call it all of the above. 

Whatever the source, whatever it is that invites us to go beyond fear and certainty, I am grateful for the opportunity to talk to strangers. Or you might say ‘to entertain angels.’

What about you?