Monday, October 5, 2009

Familiar Strangers

How many people do we enthusiastically greet without knowing their names? We can feel a connectedness that transcends names: the people in our building or adjoining buildings who we see with inconsistent frequency in elevators, skywalks or tunnels; the ever-changing security guard; the family usually seated 5 rows in front of us at church; the airline representative who we see only occasionally; the waiter who moves from restaurant to restaurant.

I label these people "familiar strangers". I am always pleased to see them, but haven't yet had the opportunity to elevate them from "familiar strangers" to acquaintances with names, or friends.

Though I don't always know their names, I appreciate the mutual recognition and connectedness that familiar strangers represent.

No comments:

Post a Comment