24 January 2009

Strangers

There was a girl behind the counter at the pizza joint who obviously wanted to be romantically wanted by someone, who made this abundantly clear to whatever stranger came along. She sent out neon flares in my direction. It was painful to realise that I couldn't fulfil this in her, because I neither really desired her nor desired to have that sort of relating toward her; but I did and do desire her happiness and fulfilment. And while there was this immediate desire of human intimacy (which is a reality to itself), her loneliness reflects a larger cultural reality of loneliness and even despair, and beyond this she participates in the human longing for the recognition of and reconciliation toward the presence of God. My being charitable and friendly did not seem to be 'enough' for her situation. What could I do? What can we do? We bear the burdens of each other.

-r