In a January column titled "Resolution Restart," I mentioned Debbie Macomber's One Perfect Word, about finding the perfect word to focus on for a year. My suggested word was "gratitude." That prompted an e-mail from Meredith Vajda, who noted that "the sentiment fits with a book [published by Berkley in April] for which I'm an evangelist." That book is Praying for Strangers by River Jordan (The Messenger of Magnolia Street, The Miracle of Mercy Land et al.), her account of praying for a stranger every day for a year. The subtitle is "An Adventure of the Human Spirit," and Jordan takes us on her journey that started New Year's Eve, 2008, as she was preparing to send her two sons off to war, to Afghanistan and Iraq. In the midst of knowing that all she could do for her sons was pray, in the midst of needing prayer herself, the idea of praying for a stranger every day dropped into her life. How would she do it? How could she do it? Jordan decided that focusing on someone, on something, besides herself was what she had to do.
As she carried out her resolution, she found herself becoming more aware of those around her, as she slowed down, attuning herself to the human condition, "looking for another soul passing through [her] little universe." She found that people were surprised, then grateful, for her prayers: "It really is a grand thing to pray for people, to give them an extra tip if you're led to, to pass on a good word of encouragement."
There is also another opportunity for gratitude, because River Jordan found herself changed: "They are rescuing me from my indifference." The people who cross our paths all have something to teach us if we take the time to stop and listen. Praying for Strangers is the perfect guidebook for the challenge of connecting. --Marilyn Dahl