Talk to Strangers

Franklin County has been a sad place this week. On Wednesday, there was a car wreck involving three high schoolers. The driver lived (praise to God), but the two passengers were killed, Maleke Moon and Timothy Hartman.

I grew up with both of these guys, they’ve been my classmates since kindergarten. I’m not going to lie and say that we were incredibly close or that I have had so many memories with them… because I don’t. I mainly remember the time from kindergarten to third grade, when Maleke would always tell people we were cousins (we are distantly related by marriage, actually), and I would get so mad at him! I don’t know why, it was probably just because I was a little drama queen and had to make a big deal out of everything. Timothy was in my class at some point as well, but I just remember him being quiet and not saying much.

All I know is, there are people in our school who were extremely close to both Maleke and Timothy, and judging by their responses this week, they’ve lost a lot of joy that both of these guys brought to their life.

That’s what devastates me the most. I didn’t get to know them as well as I could have, and now I never will be able to. I hate that I wasn’t nearly as close to two guys that I’ve known for THIRTEEN years, when others may have met them last semester and known more about them than I ever did. I am ashamed for that.

Now, I know that I’m not gonna be able to meet absolutely everyone in the school and learn every single detail about their life. But if this event has taught me one thing, it’s that you NEVER know when it’s your time - or someone else’s. We lost another classmate in November 2013 in a car wreck. All three of these incidents happened to the most unexpected people in my life, people that I didn’t think of on a regular basis because I didn’t go out of my way to speak to them. These were people that I wasn’t on a deep personal level with, or people that I would say “hey” to in the hallway, but put zero effort whatsoever into a human conversation.

But again, like I said in my last post, God is so unpredictable. Because of this tragedy, I’ve realized that you need to tell everyone you love them, start conversations (even if it turns into you babbling like an idiot... believe me, I’ve been there), reach out to people sitting alone, and put EFFORT into knowing people. Not just knowing their name and their favorite color… knowing what they want to do with their life, what’s important to them, what makes them laugh, what makes them sad, what they believe in, how they communicate, ALL OF THAT GOOD STUFF.

Even though our senior class has been through a lot in the past two years, I can honestly say that we’ve all gotten closer, just by being there for each other. Especially on days like Thursday. It has kind of brought a sense of unity to our class, and the whole school, as well. It’s so overwhelming to walk down the hall, see people hurting, and seeing someone they’ve never spoken to give them a hug. Not a wimpy side hug, a REAL, 10-second, genuine hug. It’s assuring, it makes me feel so much better that I know there will be someone for me (even if I don’t know their name) if I am ever hurting.

This reminds me of a little bookmark I used to have (referring to my last post again, I had a lot of scripture-filled bookmarks in my childhood), and it was a picture of two dogs leaning against each other. I LOVED dogs, so that was the main reason I loved that bookmark, but little did I know that the verse written on it would stick with me and make it to my blog post 10 years later…

Two people are better off than one, for they can help each other succeed. If one person falls, the other can reach out and help. But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.

-Ecclesiastes 4:9-10 (NLT)

I love it. The whole thing, kinda. Hooray hooray, someone to help you succeed! It’s awesome to have someone help you up when you’ve fallen down, because then you can just let ‘em pull you on up! But there’s one part (that was what the “kinda” was for) that gives me the feels.

“But someone who falls alone is in real trouble.”

That’s terrifying. If I fall alone, then who is gonna help me up?! I mean, I can get up, but sometimes it’s tiring… probably from the planking fail. But really, who wants to be all alone? I don’t.

And no one else does either.

That’s why we’ve been put here on this wonderful, beautiful earth! To be there for people. To create relationships with people. To love people. If we want someone there for us, we’ve gotta step up and be there for others. It may be uncomfortable at first, but you may be an answered prayer for someone!

Earlier today, I actually got the chance to talk to this guy in my class. He was talking about some of the things he did in his free time, and eventually the topic came around to ghosts and demons (YOU DON’T MESS WITH THAT STUFF). At one point he asked me if I believed in ghosts and if I was a Christian, and I said “I AM a Christian, I don’t believe in ghosts, but I for sure believe in demons!” He started telling me about these paranormal experiences he has had in his life, other hints of his beliefs, and throughout the whole conversation, there was a question burning inside of me. So, I sent up a little message to God.

“Hey, it’s Maddy. You know that though, ‘cause… You’re God. HAHA. Anyway, I know I need to say something to this guy, but I have no idea what you want me to say. Please give me the words to say. Because you know when I open this mouth, what I say ’s a surprise to everyone (including me).”

So after this guy had gotten done with the story he was telling, I just asked him “Do you believe in God?” I know it may sound completely inappropriately timed, but it wasn’t! Sure, the question itself was a little uncomfortable, but whatever. Sometimes you just have to be uncomfortable. I mean, have you ever sat through the SAT in a chair without a back?

I have. It’s horrible.

I’m not going to go into detail about his answer, but he basically said that he did believe in God, but he didn’t necessarily have a religion. We had a really nice conversation about it, and I feel like I know him 100 times better now.

*in commercial advertiser voice*

BUT WAIT, THERE’S MORE! I was telling my teacher about the conversation later, and she said, “Wow, he has actually been sending me messages telling me to pray for him for the past month!”

So, maybe the conversation today answered some questions he was having. I don’t know, maybe it didn’t! But I DO know that God gave me the words to say to him, and that I learned from it myself, and that is awesome.

Always be there for people. Good times, okay times… and especially bad times, like this week at FCHS. Remember, two are better than one (“Maybe it’s trueeeeee, that I can’t live without you! And maybe twooooo is better than oneeee!” I love that song). Talk to people you don’t normally talk to! Heck, TALK TO STRANGERS! …...in a safe environment of course. It may seem weird, and it is - at first. But once the conversation starts, it can turn into a fun little talking session, or it may change their life.

I’ve had so many people in my life in the past week that I’m SO glad I have them there for me, so I shall share that with you now! For Jared and I’s New Year’s Resolution, we decided to have a “Sundate” every month. I kind of mentioned it in my last post, but I will expand upon it. We had a few last year, and it was when we would pick a Sunday to go out to eat, to the movies, on a fun little adventure, anything! Mainly Olive Garden. On a DATE… Get it? Sunday… Date… Sun-date... Yeah. So, with me going to college this year and everything, we thought it would be a good idea to have a tradition that we keep up every month! Our January Sundate was: ANTIQUING!

And Monday, we were out of school for MLK, so Emily, Matthew, and I went bowling! I also got to meet Emily’s dog, Izzy... Oh so precious and small.

AND, my Jared got nominated from his grade to be one of the two guys on Mr. Lion Court! He is one handsome fella. And Tam Tam is one pretty escorter.

AND AND AND, Saturday night I finally got to go see my favorite show at the Fox! NEWSIES! I had actually never seen the full show before, only pieces on YouTube. We got tickets this summer and I have been counting down the days until Saturday night! My expectations were so high, and it did nothing less than utterly surpass every earthly thing I have ever known as "amazing."

......and yes, I cried during the overture.

Do not be misled: “Bad company corrupts good character.”

-1 Corinthians 15:33

Thanks to everyone who is my good company, you rock my socks off.