strangers

I met a man today when I went to get some coffee with Bekah. We were sitting on the couch, and he just so happened to place his Humanities textbook down on the table next to us. This was how we met. I asked him if he was a student or professor in the class. He answered by saying that he was trying to be the teacher. We talked for a brief bit, asking a lot of questions about his name, birthday, and classes. He answered them kindly with a smile on his face, and we both went back to what we were doing. It wasn’t long before Abbey sat down, so Bekah went over to the professor’s table to talk to him. As Abbey and I were talking about student teaching, I overheard Bekah describing people, places, and passions to our new friend. I didn’t hear much else of the conversation, but I knew it must be interesting if they were talking about something that I had previously told Bekah about. I actually got people, places, and passions from Mr. Svoboda in San Francisco. While I was there, I never really thought about what those words meant, but they seem to becoming clearer in my head as I learn more about myself in Cedar Falls. Abbey left to go to Orange Elementary School, so I went to sit with the professor and Bekah at the table. There conversation was, in fact, a very interesting one. I can’t remember what the exact topic was when I sat down, but I remember Bekah got up right when I sat down to go talk to Molly. I was left there, so I began to tell John about my experiences in San Francisco. He was stationed there near Hunters Point when he was in the Navy. I told him about my travels, and things seemed to go from there. Bekah came back to join us, and the conversation immediately took off. Over the course of 2 or 3 hours, the three of us talked about everything that has been going through my mind during the past few weeks. We talked about books, beliefs, demons, college, experiences, everything. The entire time, the professor treated Bekah and I as if we were all equals. Both of us thought that was extra special because it’s not often that an adult will sit and listen to two college students and hear them out with non-judgmental ears. Bekah and I started talking about spiritual warfare and original sin. The professor kept asking questions and telling stories. We talked about death, and each of us gave examples of God-moments in our own lives where it seems as if angels have stepped in briefly to save our lives. We talked about books like Steppenwolf, Brave New World, Screwtape Letters, and the Bible; each of these books being prevalent in our daily lives. The discussion was so amazing. All of us kept saying how we couldn’t believe that it was actually happening. It was as if God placed us there next to John on purpose. He was encouraging to us in ways that I have never experienced from anybody, let alone a university professor. He listened intently to everything I said, and he didn’t call me crazy. In fact, it seemed as if we had a lot of similar thoughts. I feel as if I’m describing the conversation unjustly because it was so good and filled with so many good things that I don’t know how to properly describe it. It was simply unbelievable. At the end of the talk, Bekah gave both John and me cards she had made for us; his being a happy birthday card and mine was sort of a thank you. It was sad to end the talk, but we had realized that our cars were definitely about to be towed because we were in two hour parking. After John left, Bekah and I could not get over how perfect everything seemed in that moment. We were two kids feeling more important than ever before. We planned on meeting with John again, but I don’t know if it can be like it was today. It was too perfect. Words from mewithoutYou and As Cities Burn are flying through my mind right now; words that aren’t my own, but ones that occupy my thoughts. These are thoughts about life and death, and the difference between living and existing. Some of my thoughts are questions that can never be answered, but that’s ok. As John reassured me today, some questions just can’t be answered here, and that’s ok.