Every Life is a Story

We can learn and grow when we look back on our own lives. We can also be influenced as we view the lives of others by observing them or reading about them. Each of our lives is a story. It is for this reason that I reminisce and write about mine in this Blog.

When my daughter, Christa, was at Muhlenberg College she volunteered to become buddies with an elderly woman, Betty, who resided at The Phoebe Retirement Community in Allentown. A school project turned into a lasting friendship. They became part of each others lives. They would get together for lunch and other activities. They shared stories and shared their lives with each other. Betty joined our family to celebrate Christa’s graduation. Betty died last year but her influence and story go on. This past Friday, Christa was asked to participate in a story telling reception at Phoebe. She was asked to recollect and share about her friendship with Betty. Sometimes we take for granted the people who touch our lives. This exercise in story telling was very emotional for Christa and for the people who listened to their story. Although Betty is no longer physically here, her shared life and story will always be a part of Christa’s life.

Another story that comes to mind is that of the limousine driver, Ali, who picked Richard and me up at the Dallas airport last week. We spoke for less than an hour as we traveled to our hotel. I was so very impressed by him and his life story. He expressed his story with passion and fluency. He came to America on his mother’s passport from India when he was 18 months old. He is the only one of his siblings who has learned his parent’s native language. After college, for ten years, he traveled all over the world with one company. He did very well financially but traveled so much and was so busy that he didn’t have time to enjoy life. He appreciated the sacrifices which his parents made by taking the initiative to travel to a new land and a new beginning. He told us about the time he made a trip back to India to attend a very exclusive affair. There were no limits to the food and fruit which were being served. He became aware of a young child approaching the garbage cans to retrieve what he could of the food which people were throwing out. Tears came to his eyes and he made arrangements for the left over food to be given to the boy and his family. This little beggar boy touched Ali’s life. America had given Ali and his family opportunities and a life that he was very grateful for.

Ali decided to quit his all-consuming traveling job. The pay which he collected from his former employer gave him a financial cushion but when that was spent he still didn’t have another job or know what he wanted to do. He vented his dilemma to a friend, a limousine driver, who had previously taken him to the airport so many times when he was traveling at his previous job. This friend offered to set him up with his own limousine. He suggested that it was something that Ali should try because of his personable nature, experience, and education. Ali said, “I have two college degrees and you suggest that I become a limousine driver?” The rest is history. Ali started with one limousine and now owns his own company which runs fourteen vehicles. He is doing very well. He married, bought a home, and has twin sons. He mainly manages the company but still has certain customers that he likes to drive for. We thank him for wanting to pick up Christa’s parents and for telling us his story. I hope my account has done it justice. I am so very proud of America and everything our country offers to those who have a dream and ambition. Ali, we wish you continued success in your business and personal happiness to you and your family. It was a pleasure to have met you. You are a very impressive young man. As I suggested, you should write a book. If you do, I want a copy!

Our lives aren’t compartmentalized. All areas of our life are connected. Decisions which we have made in the past, or even yesterday, will affect our lives today. They compose our story. We reap what we sow and everything we do has consequences. The character of our life will touch the lives of others. Not only are we personally connected; mind, body, and spirit; past and present; our lives are connected with others. Sometimes we don’t even know who is looking at us or listening to our story. Our character is what we are when no one is looking. Let us try to be real, not disingenuous. God sees our hearts and motives in every situation. We cannot always control our circumstances, but with God’s help, we can control how we act and respond. He looks on the inward, not the outward. Let each of us live a story that we would want to be told.