Arise Through Simple Kindness & Friendship

It was an early Sunday morning in Madison, Wisconsin. It was the 15th anniversary of the horrific events of “9/11”. I was thinking about that, but I was also thinking of the wonderful time we’d had in Madison. I’d never been there, but I hope to go back someday. What happy, loving, enthusiastic people!

Early that morning, several presenters and I got a taxi to get to the airport. Our driver was Becky. I ended up in the front, which meant I got to talk to her (I don't hear well enough to catch much when I'm behind a person or quite a ways away from them).

She asked why we were in Madison, and I told her we’d had a terrific women's event. I asked if she'd heard of Mormons. There was quite a long pause, and then she said, "I was baptized when I was 10 . . . but I left when I was 16." And it was something about her Mother that I didn't quite catch.

I shared some thoughts, including the sweet news that it's never too late to come back.

I asked if she grew up in Madison. “Yes.” I asked if she has family living there too. Then came a very long pause, and I realized she was crying. I didn't say anything – just gave her some Kleenex.

Eventually she held her right arm over to me, turned so I could see the inside of her lower arm. It was a beautifully done tattoo – an eagle with "R.I.P. KENNY" inside of it. I didn't know who Kenny was and she didn’t explain further, but I said, "Oh... I'm SO SORRY." Later she told me he's her brother, and that he just died in May (she didn't say how). She said, "And my other brother was sent to prison for seventeen years at the same time." She didn't elaborate, and I didn't ask. But I felt like I could still share a few more things with her about the gospel.

And then I asked, "If I give you my email address, would you send me a note? I want to send you something which I hope will be comforting to you." She thought about it for quite a while -- I could tell she wasn't exactly shy, but she wasn’t one to talk freely, either. Eventually, she said, "OK...."

So I gave her one of my little calling cards.

As we arrived at the airport, one of the TOFW team members sitting behind me said quietly, so Becky couldn't hear,"She told you she's going to give your card back." I hadn't heard that, but I felt SO BAD. I wondered if I had offended her.

But then, while helping us pull our luggage out of the back of the taxi she said to me, "I'll give YOU my email address."

That was SO HAPPIFYING!!! I went up on her side of the taxi so she could get something to write it on. I thanked her and hugged her. She smiled a bit. I told her how glad I was that we got HER taxi that morning. She talked to us a lot about her job as we went along.

When I got home I sent her the words to Hymn # 115, "Come Ye Disconsolate":

Come, ye disconsolate, where'er ye languish;

Come to the mercy seat, fervently kneel.

Here bring your wounded hearts; here tell your anguish.

Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot heal.

Joy of the desolate, Light of the straying,

Hope of the penitent, fadeless and pure!

Here speaks the Comforter, tenderly saying,

"Earth has no sorrow that heav'n cannot cure."

Here see the Bread of Life; see waters flowing

Forth from the throne of God, pure from above.

Come to the feast of love; come, ever knowing

Earth has no sorrow but heav'n can remove.

Text: Thomas Moore, 1779-1852. Verse three, Thomas Hastings, 1784-1872 Music: Samuel Webbe, 1740-1816

I highlighted things like,"Earth has no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal" for her and sent it off.

I don't know that I'll ever hear back from her, but I’m so thankful we got to be in her taxi on that Sunday morning. As I think of our TOFW for this year, I feel like we each have many opportunities to ARISE through simple kindness and friendship. I’m thankful for the wonderful people who “arise” and come to the events in the midst of busy lives, countless demands, and sometimes in the midst of great challenges – each of you (and all of you) bring so much light and joy! Thank you!

Don't miss your chance to hear Mary Ellen Edmunds' message at TOFW this fall at an ARISE event near you!