The late Henri Nouwen, who spent some years living in a L’Arche community, used to tell a story of being in the elevator of a prestigious hotel in an American city where he was giving a lecture. He had invited his friend Bill, a man with an intellectual disability, to join him. As they stood silent in the elevator filled with other hotel guests, Bill remarked to one of the men beside him, “Your shoes look pretty dusty! I guess you better get a shoeshine.” Following the awkward moment, Bill added with a chuckle, “Mine do too…I guess we both better get a shoeshine!” The man laughed, the other people laughed, and the ice was broken. For the rest of the ride the people chatted with one another. The awkward but refreshingly innocent comment broke through the personal guardedness typical in a cramped elevator and created a brief but nonetheless life-giving connection to other riders.

I find myself often “blessed” by similar experiences where awkward or seemingly inappropriate comments are made. When expressed innocently by people who are longing for relationship, they can be the source of delightful human exchanges. Stretching as those experiences may be for those wishing to display sophistication and demonstrate their perceived social status, they become breaths of fresh air as honest connections take place between human beings.

All of us, no matter our responsibilities or circumstances in life, have a deep longing for communication, for connectedness and for meaningful relationships. I invite you to explore, to get to know us, to share with us who you are and yes, to bring your desire for connection. I trust you too can join us in this movement that recognizes that we all have dusty shoes and are all in need of a shoeshine.

Steve Thiessen
July, 2010

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