Healing Happens One Conversation At A Time

Healing happens one conversation at a time. Every conversation has the potential to bring healing. I don’t think I’ll ever underestimate the power of this.

This weekend, I met Joe for the first time. I had never seen him on our mail route before. He might have been a substitute. I was puttering in the yard and spraying weeds when I noticed the mail truck drive by. I try to make it a point to wave to our mailman whenever I see him. I appreciate what he does. I don’t know anything about our regular mailman. Sadly, I haven’t engaged in much conversation past cordial pleasantry.

Always have a conversation

Joe drove around the cul-de-sac and eventually stopped at our home. I waved and said, “hi.” He placed our mail in the mailbox and then proceeded to get out of his truck with a package that wouldn’t fit. He hesitated as to whether to leave it on top of the mailbox or head my way. He asked me where he should leave the package. I stopped what I was doing and walked toward him and thanked him. We wished each other a good day.

I continued to spray weeds and go about my business. A few minutes later Joe got out of his mail truck and headed back in my direction. Joe was easily 6’5 and towered over me. He is African American. He asked me what type of product I was spraying on my lawn and we dove into a conversation about our yards. He likes gardening too.

A Moment of Healing

I believe we both entered a moment of healing. Joe could have driven off to the next house on his mail route. He only had another hour to go, that’s what he told me. But instead, he stopped and got out of his truck to chat. It’s almost as though we both knew it was needed. A black man and a white woman in suburbia, sharing a few minutes, just talking about our shared interest in gardening. We experienced a moment, more profound than I can articulate, that reminded us both, I believe, that even in the midst of chaos, racial tensions, increased division and violence, we are brothers and sister of the same family. And as members of God’s family, we are asked to love and help one another heal. I think we did that.

Joe, you’ll probably never see this, but thanks for stopping by. Healing happens one conversation at a time.

I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.

St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta