A Truly Serendipitous Moment
on A Serendipitous Journey (Kenya), 10/Feb/2010 20:25, 34 days ago
Almost exactly a year ago, I took an overnight trip by train to the Coast with a friend who was visiting from Canada. En route to Mombasa, we met a man in the breakfast cart who I truly will never forget.They say that sometimes people come into our lives for a reason– some become lifelong friends while others you may only meet once or twice but change you forever. This man was one of those latter people. He is a Kenyan human rights lawyer who defends abused children and also started an orphanage for those children who have no other safe place to go. In theshort weekend that we got to know him, despite 100+ different priorities, he and his colleagues took my friends and I out and I learned the fascinating work that he does, as well as some of the unbelievable challenges that he has had to overcome. He is a rare man who truly makes an impact in thisworld, despite hundreds of road blocks along the way, and seems to persevere in pursuit of what is right with humour, dignity and grace. We had a lot of fun with him and his friends but haven’t really stayed in touch.Without getting into details, it’s safe to say that I have become rather disillusioned over the past few weeks and more cynical than I like to be. And this afternoon I received the final push to help re-inspire me. In the shopping centre, while I was enjoying a milkshake with a friend, this same man recognized me and came overto say hi. After greetings and a quick chat, he was off, but I felt like the biggest weight had been lifted off of my shoulders and I was reminded that there are truly good people in this world who persevere despite obstacles and do what is right. I feel like my faith in human nature has been restored and I am so grateful for that truly serendipitous moment.“Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some people move our souls to dance. They awaken us to a new understanding with the passing whisper of their wisdom. Some people make the sky more beautiful to gaze upon. They stay in our lives for awhile, leave footprints on our hearts, and we arenever, ever the same.”- Flavia Weedn