Connections

While driving up the California coast, I spent two nights at a campground in Marina, just north of Monterey.  Upon arrival, I was greeted by a Dutch couple in the adjacent site; their RV bore a large colorful mural that marked it as a rental. After exchanging pleasantries, the man sheepishly asked if I could use some toilet paper.

“Sure,” I laughed, expecting a few rolls. But out he came out with an unopened pack of 18. They had been traveling for two weeks, he explained, and had to return the vehicle to San Francisco the next morning—so they wouldn’t need the extra stock.

I suggested that he keep a couple rolls, just in case, then accepted the rest. Before I had even found a place to store the bounty, he was back with food. “We ordered pizza,” he shrugged, “and we would just have to throw this out.”

This time I said yes to a pair of chicken breasts, four hamburgers, and 24 eggs. I had the chicken for dinner and went to bed early.

I saw them again the next morning as they were preparing to leave. “How was your pizza?” I asked.

“It never came,” he said. “We waited two hours. Every time we called, they said it would be 10 minutes. But the guy never showed up.”

“Oh, no!” I moaned. “What did you eat?”

He shrugged. “We had some pop tarts in the freezer...”

“Why didn’t you tell me?” I blurted. “I could have given your food back!”

He shrugged. “We didn’t think it would be right. Besides, it’ll make a good story when we get home.”

Intrigued by their equanimity, I told them about my journey. Without hesitancy or defensiveness, they said they didn’t believe in God. She made reference to karma, and spoke of her work as a nurse in a psychiatric institution—describing scenes in which patients of different faiths argued nearly to blows over the merits of their respective religions. His moral code was shaped by an innate sense of right and wrong; basically, his choices were governed by the feelings associated with his actions.

I was struck by their sincerity, kindness, and integrity. In that sense, they’re highly representative of the people I’ve encountered these past 11 weeks. No matter what they believe, most folks are inherently goodhearted.

“My husband and I recently toured the southwest,” wrote Pamela Williams-Gifford in response to a previous blog. “Naturally I expected to be, and was, inspired by the landscape. (But) what surprised me were the overwhelmingly consistent HUMAN connections we made. Across the board, at gas pumps, in diners, at motel registration desks, and scenic lookouts, we made connections at the heart level. I was shattered by the landscape, but I was humbled by human souls.”

Pamela eloquently captures the great gift of my travels thus far. I, too, have been impressed by the “heart level” connections—and am likewise humbled by the intrinsic goodness of the “human souls” making their way through this world we share. When we get away from what the media presents as “news” and tune into the higher aspirations of our hearts, the connections can be pretty amazing. Clearly, I’m not the only one noticing.

(Coburg, OR)