Strangers

It's funny…how it works…people walk into the bookstore as strangers…we greet…we talk…I might help them find the book they're looking for…we talk some more…and in those few brief moments…we're not strangers anymore. We begin by talking about books…then move to sharing things about our life… "Her birthday is next week." He smiles. "I'm going to buy this old book for my wife." "What a beautiful baby! " I say. "I remember when our children were that small…but it's been a while…when I wave to the baby and she waves back…everybody smiles. "Can I bring my dog into the store? " "Of course…that would be fine." Then he tells me a little about his dog…and I tell him things I remember about mine. And so it goes…one after the other…strangers walk into our store…and once we share what we have in common…we're not strangers anymore. Because the more we learn about each other…the more bridges we create…the more there is to love and the less there is to hate. Which means if we can make strangers into friends… the less chance there is for danger because it's harder to hate a friend…than it is to hate a stranger. So here's my vote for viewing the world as one giant expansive bookstore… where we meet as strangers… we talk… we share with one another… where in a matter of minutes… we're not strangers anymore.