The stranger’s nod
So yesterday. Half a year into our prospering effort to organize the religious communities in our city into an interfaith network to defend and sustain our migrant and refugee neighbors.
Fiftysome of us are standing in a “circle of silence” vigil in front of City Hall. Periodically, spokespeople from different faiths speak an affirmation of unity and justice for all people. And a prayer. All of us hold signs.
Ever since kindergarten, I’ve being the guy who notices the flow of peer attention, the guy who notices how people notice each other and what they do about it. At first this was in sissy self-defense. But it matured into a skill set, into a ministry. When I see that some of those present might be missing the point, I nudge, I signal, I invite.
So at this gathering I notice that though the organizers have made a big banner, everyone is clustered around it. The drivers passing by on Main Street cannot see why we are there. I point this out to several people, including one of the organizers. But they are already into the flow of action and don’t move the banner.
At some point I’ve been given two 8 ½ x 11 cardstock rally signs. One says, “We Want Legal Pathways, Not Deportations.” The other says, “I stand with immigrants & refugees.”
It occurs to me to hold these high, pointed toward the street. After a while I’m barely hearing the testimonies. As least until one priest speaks in that beautiful Spanish that I wish I knew. Until a muezzin chants in sublime Arabic.
What I’m doing instead of listening is watching for every driver’s face that I can catch, watching the flow of traffic in both directions. Regular shifting hands above my hand, since my gimpy 75-year-old body doesn’t like doing this. Just often enough that someone slows to see what’s happening and glances toward me. Just often enough that someone honks.
About 40 minutes into the vigil, a young woman who is passing by smiles at me, reaches up gently, and touches her fist to mine. At the close of the vigil, one of the college students who processed with their faculty from the Jesuit college two miles away comes up to me. “Good job,” he says and goes on his way.
That nod from strangers is all we really need or want. To be noticed in a benevolent way. To be affirmed, not just as existing, but as being a real person.
That is really all we need.
And so it is.
Blessèd Be.
Image source:
“We Want Legal Pathways“ and “I stand with immigrants and refugees“ rally signs from the Ignatian Solidarity Network.
Thanks for doing this!
Love this. All of it.