Passerby

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Passerby

Wanda Wade

It was early morning, still dark out as my son Ethan and I got into the car headed to our normal drive of the stop to wait for the school bus.  Our drive is usually quiet, both of us trying to gather our thoughts for the day and taking mental checks to make sure nothing was left behind.  As we drove the distance of our long winding street, my son spoke what he was obviously thinking. 

“Mom, I’m looking at all of the cars in the driveways of all of these houses that we’re passing by and it makes me think about all of the people that live there.” 

I mumbled, “Uh-huh” because I wanted him to continue. 

Then he said something that was very profound to me, “it makes me think about all of them living their lives, making plans about what they want to do and then I think about how that must be happening everywhere around the world.” 

“Wow, you’re right.  What do you think about that?” I asked. 

His reply was, “it’s weird and scary all at the same time.” 

Our conversation ended abruptly because he had to catch the bus and I was off to my daily regime at the gym.  I did however, think about what my very thought provoking fourteen year old had said. Sure we could’ve finished the conversation later that day when he returned home but I was in a place of wanting to expound where he had left off.

I thought I was the only one who was a passerby in the lives of people I don’t know.  From time to time I may come in contact with a stranger and walk away wondering what their life is like.  Is there someone waiting for them at home?  Has life been good to them?  Or, are they alone in a world that’s home to millions.

I don’t think it’s uncommon for us to wonder about the lives of those around us.  I believe it’s a part of our nature, call it curiosity or just plain nosiness but it would be even more scary to think that your life is the only one that matters.

Caring about your fellow man gives hope for humanity and it reminds us to grab a hold of life and all that it has to offer.  The next time you’re passing by someone’s life hopefully you will demonstrate an act of selflessness because we're told in doing so it lends to the human spirit and my cause a chain reaction with good results to follow.

The human spirit teaches us to connect to as many humans as possible. - wanda wade