Encounter with a stranger

Last updated on: March 25, 2016 at 5:26 pm by Father Pablo Migone

Encounter with a stranger 2016-03-25T17:26:06-05:00 Father Pablo Migone

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I was recently sitting at a hospital waiting room. A security guard walking across the room stopped and sparked up a conversation with me. Our brief exchange progressed quickly and covered many topics. He told me how children are like biscuits, they can be molded into whatever shape their parents and environment molds them into. He told me about his family in South Carolina and how the last shall be first, and the first shall be last.

About halfway through our conversation he shared some wisdom his mother would always say, “those who think they know everything know nothing and those who want everything have nothing.” It became clear to me from our discussing the recent events in Charleston where a policeman killed a man, that this security guard had been a police officer in the past. What did not become so clear, but it would not surprise me if it were true, was if he was also a pastor.

I am not sure why he began chatting with me, I was not wearing my clerics, but the bit of wisdom that so beautifully summarizes pride and greed struck a chord in me. Pride is the inordinate confidence or excessive esteem of one’s abilities, making a person think he is the source of his own greatness and achievement. Those who think they know everything feel invincible and self-made. They tend to be arrogant and dismissive of others. The remedy to heal pride is humility, the virtue that recognizes one’s own faults and total dependence on God. Being humble does not require becoming a doormat where everyone is welcome to step all over, but rather humility is recognizing the truth that “I do not know everything and cannot do everything” and to be at peace.

Greed is the inordinate desire for material possessions. Those who want everything are always left unhappy and frustrated because their desire will never be satisfied. The remedy to heal greed is generosity, the virtue by which one gives without expecting anything in return. Generosity not only includes financial giving, but the giving of one’s self to others with Jesus Christ as an example of someone who gave himself up freely on the cross. Generosity is recognizing that it is by giving that we receive.

You never know who you will meet throughout the day. You never know what insight, wisdom or idea may emerge from dialoguing with a complete stranger. We must be attentive to our surroundings, open to engage others, so that by giving of our time and attention the Holy Spirit may give us something to munch on and meditate.

Written for The Southern Cross

Picture taken in Puno, Peru at Plaza Pino

Uncategorized

Previous Post

April 5, 2015

They have taken the Lord from the tomb

Next Post

April 23, 2015 Un encuentro con un desconocido

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category Article Catholic Lima Christmas Commentary History Homily Immigration martyrs Meditation Pope Reflection Saint Story Uncategorized

Select a Month September 2026 August 2026 July 2026 June 2026 May 2026 April 2026 December 2025 November 2025 October 2025 September 2025 August 2025 July 2025 June 2025 May 2025 April 2025 March 2025 February 2025 January 2025 December 2024 November 2024 September 2024 August 2024 July 2024 June 2024 May 2024 April 2024 March 2024 February 2024 January 2024 December 2023 November 2023 October 2023 September 2023 August 2023 June 2023 May 2023 April 2023 February 2023 January 2023 December 2022 November 2022 October 2022 September 2022 August 2022 July 2022 June 2022 May 2022 April 2022 March 2022 February 2022 January 2022 December 2021 November 2021 October 2021 September 2021 August 2021 July 2021 June 2021 May 2021 April 2021 March 2021 February 2021 January 2021 December 2020 November 2020 October 2020 September 2020 August 2020 July 2020 June 2020 May 2020 April 2020 March 2020 February 2020 January 2020 December 2019 November 2019 October 2019 September 2019 August 2019 July 2019 June 2019 May 2019 April 2019 March 2019 February 2019 January 2019 December 2018 November 2018 October 2018 September 2018 August 2018 July 2018 June 2018 May 2018 April 2018 March 2018 February 2018 January 2018 December 2017 November 2017 October 2017 September 2017 August 2017 July 2017 June 2017 May 2017 April 2017 March 2017 February 2017 January 2017 December 2016 November 2016 October 2016 September 2016 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 May 2016 April 2016 March 2016 February 2016 January 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 December 2013 November 2013 October 2013 September 2013 August 2013 July 2013 June 2013 May 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 February 2012 January 2012 December 2011 November 2011 October 2011 September 2011 August 2011 July 2011 June 2011 May 2011 April 2011 March 2011 February 2011 January 2011 December 2010 November 2010 October 2010 September 2010 August 2010 July 2010 June 2010 May 2010 April 2010 January 2010 June 2009 September 2008 August 2008

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

Which chapter in Proverbs describes detailed work habits of the ant?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Proverbs 2 Proverbs 6 Proverbs 31 Proverbs 24