It amazes me how although worlds, languages, and generations apart it does not push back the overwhelming need for man kind to love one another. Now I know with all the turmoil in the world sometimes this may be hard to believe, but I'f you open yourself to it, and allow the presence of love to penetrate your being , you will be amazed and moved at the compassion in the world.
I found this compassion on my journey to Cusco. On my roughly 7 hour flight from Houston to Lima i found my self in luck with an exit row all to myself. I was reading the majority of the flight, in economy where service is highly dependant on the mood of your host or hostess. Well I am not sure if She felt like blessing me today with kindness, our great spiritual mother, but my steward stopped to ask why I was travelling alone. He was an older man with a very thick Spanish accent. Our communication was less than perfect. He found it crazy and inspiring my need to take off on a whim and to such a foreign place. Throughout the duration of the flight he brought me extra blankets, tea from first class cups and baileys in my coffee.. All on the house. I wasn't sure why he was so kind, and I may never know. His girlfriend worked the flight as well. For whatever reason when I left I was given a card that when used, would allow me buddy passes for my next few trips on United.
Amazing.
I have been spending much time lately trying to push back my desire to break free of my current situation and see the world, witness it's inhabitants and marvel at its many wonders. Maybe this is the spirits (I firmly believe in this) way of guiding me. I have never been so open and ready to step outside my comfort zone.
The next act of human compassion moved me further. I found myself on a layover in the Lima airport, arriving at 11pm and my next flight out not until 540 am. Normally I would check in and proceed to sleep on benches However the ticket counter was closed until 330. I wandered around until I noticed a area were people were laying on the ground. Other weary travelers like myself. Normally I would avoid this situation, convincing myself I need to be alone somewhere. NOT this time. I walked pass te sea of sleeping bodies and found my concrete haven for the night. Around 1230 I awoke freezing, no blanket, not feeling well. A Peruvian man sleepin next to me awoke as I was stirring about and offered me refuge. He had two blankets and he offered on up, he also let me lay on a small corner of the one he had on the ground. He spoke no english, he didn't ask my name, nor did he try to make a pass at me.
A bed is a bed, rest is rest...
Me and that man slept next to one another for 3 hours. When my alarm went, I rose, covered him in the blanket he had offered, thanked him an left. I still do not know his name. But last night he was my brother, and the steward my friend.
Look around you, do not reject the kindness available in the world. We are all cut from the same cloth. It's unfortunate we live in an age where we are taught to close ourselves off from the kindness of strangers, because we are made to believe the world is such a "scary" "unforgiving" place.
I live by this scripture. I learnt it when I was converted to Mormonism when I was 18 (another long story with a sad ending)
Hebrews 13:2
" let brotherly love continue, be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for some have entertained angels unawares"
Love and peace,
Until next time..
Jenny
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