It made me think of how a little can go along way in our work at Northampton Jesus Centre. In the last few weeks I've had 2 middle aged women come in just for some one to talk to, both battling with depression and feeling there was no one to turn to; so they sought out the listening ear of a stranger.
This photograph is symbolic in most people's minds of the compassion in action during the aftermath of the 7/11 London bombings. A day full of tragedy, but also many stories of the kindness of strangers in the midst of devestation and horrorific images of suffering. It is a reminder, the article goes on to say that "we need each other".
In our social- media obsessed generation where we have more possibilities to be connected with strangers than ever before, why is it that people feel more isolated and alone than ever before too?
The writer goes on to suggest "that the significance of a strangers actions become imprinted on us when our survival is called into question" (1)
This was true for Sid who tells his story on your Tube "Socks- Northampton Jesus Centre". During the lowest point in his life, where he was being swallowed up by a sense of aloneness and alcohol the small act of kindness from a total stranger in laundering and folding his socks, transformed his life, allowing him to feel connected to another human being, he had never met, who cared about him.
"In times of trouble these moments of connection remind us what it is to be human" (1)
Here at Northampton Jesus Centre we rely on a team of faithful volunteers, who each day will become some one's hero; not because they do anything dramatic or extravagant, but simply because they are there when a new visitor, in crisis, walks through the door. Many of them only come once but in that one encounter is the possibility to re-connect someone, in difficulty, with the fact they are human,because another human being has shown they care about them.
(1) All quotes from Jon Bauer's article "The comfort of strangers" Tuesday 23rd October 2012,article in The I.
