Strange things can happen when people who ordinarily never would have met are suddenly thrust together with either a common enemy or a common goal. Relationships, whoever brief, form in the midst of struggle and fear. I noticed the phenomenon anew while at the Mayo Clinic this past week. Other than employees, everyone was either a patient, or a relative or friend of one.
There is no time or reason for mere niceties in such an environment; no need to compare surgeries or scars. We review our lists of appointments as we scurry from building to building in the underground walkway. We encourage and believers pray. Sometimes we cry together; we hug and well-wishes are sincere. I love to meet fellow travelers and learn their stories. Let me share two of the hallway friendships I made.
Joe and Susan invited me to join them at their breakfast table in the cafe. Susan was there to get her regularly scheduled radiation treatment. In spite of their roller coaster medical ride, the couple was not without hope. Before long they began pulling out photos of their children and grandchildren. As I listened I heard of the faith that sustains them and their strong belief in the promise of heaven. What a joy to meet two individuals I am already related to through the blood of the Savior.
Abraham needed help setting up an email account in the complimentary computer room. In minutes I was transported to the South Pacific in the middle of World War II as he lay incapacitated in the military hospital. He had lied about his age to fulfill his dream of becoming a marine. Now he was in trouble after it was discovered that a sixteen-year-old patient needed major surgery. Abraham still could not talk about the battles he was in; that was too painful over sixty years later. But with a twinkle in his eye he shared how he had wrangled his way into the service and managed to serve the entire war. Tears then filled his eyes as he spoke of his precious wife who had died over twenty years ago, a woman he loves unashamedly to this day. He told me of his Jewish heritage and his devotion to God and the Torah. When we finally left each other, we were no longer strangers. We will keep in contact via email.
If space permitted, I could write of many more individuals with whom I shared time and stories. I doubt very much if I will ever personally encounter Joe or Susan or Abraham again. But in that snippet of time we formed a bond that allowed us to get to know each other much better than we likely would had we met in a grocery store or at the mall. Now I have new people to pray for when I intercede on their behalf with the Father.
Let me challenge each of you to look for opportunities to form what I refer to as hallway friendships. These are the relationships that may not be lifelong but are nevertheless necessary. They spur us to listen, to care, to pray, to love on behalf of a Savior who longs to be the best Friend of all. Take the time; take the chance. Someday you may be the one in need of a hallway friend.
