Chance encounters in New York

I was waiting outside an office building in midtown yesterday evening for a 6 PM meeting. I was pulling of my headphones and straightening my tie.

In front of me passed a familiar face--a man from my congregation. He was on his way home from work, heading to Penn Station to catch the train. We were surprised--a bit shocked, maybe--to see one another. But immediately, the surprise changed into something else.

It struck me plain. I was happy to see him. We greeted one another with a smile and a warm handshake. We each asked sincere questions about the other's well-being. In the span of three minutes, we plumbed down to the deeper questions.

"How are you... really?"

In a city of 10,000,000 people, a chance encounter. And in that chance encounter, the life-giving realization that I am known to someone. There are people here who know me and who care about me. I am not alone.

This grace is sufficient.