To know them-
This post may be a bit creepy— sorry if it is- I have been wondering today about people I do not know— people who I often see but don’t get the chance for whatever reason to really know them. I am blessed to work at a University that is small enough that I get to almost know over half of the students on a very deep and personal level. But what about the others- tonight- I went by the office to clean- and print out a new form I had been working on for the upcoming “free-move”- I realized right about the time that I opened the door to the student center that there were about 25 people sitting in a circle on the couches- chatting… I was about to say hello-when I realized I didn’t know ANY of them. What an odd feeling it was. So I said hello quickly and went into my office- I closed the door and then (here comes the creepy part) I looked out the window at them- I kinda studied their faces and I kinda tried to remember if I met any of them at registration…but nothing came to mind. I went on into my office and sat there for a minute thinking about those people….wondering what kind of homes they came from, what brought them to Freed-Hardeman, what made them laugh or what made them cry- what did they plan to do with their future….it made me feel kinda sad that I am here working for these young people and all those people- I didn’t know any of them. One thing that I learned a long time ago- everyone has a story. Some are exciting and wonderful and some are boring and still just as wonderful…and some are hard and hurtful and painful and pitiful…but everyone has a story. So tonight as I sit here typing on my old reliable laptop- I want to let it be known that I want to find out those stories- It is going to become my goal while I work with and for these people- to learn them- to listen to them and mostly to love them. I know that when we look at people we see a very surface story but what a joy and blessing to know the deeper part- to find the places they are hurting and help, the things that make them happy and smile, the worries and stresses and joys and blessing. I want to know them- I want to hear their story.
