The power of a stranger

Photo by Charles Deluvio on Unsplash

When we were deep in lockdown, I relished the opportunity to go to the supermarket, the post-office and the butchers.

These weekly trips, which were once chores to be rushed through, had now become an opportunity! It was a legitimate reason to leave the house, one where I could actually have conversations with people face to face! Through Perspex screens of course.

In a well-known supermarket  I had a conversation with a young lad who was working on the till. This supermarket provides vouchers to entice you to return the following week, with a promise of more vouchers, if you spend a certain amount of money. 

 Knowing I wouldn’t be in during the week, I asked the shop assistant to keep them, and pass them on to someone else. Someone had done exactly the same the previous week, and I had benefited, so really it was just passing the kindness along to someone else.

It was what the young lad said next that got me thinking, “that’s the power of a stranger”. 

Power of a stranger?! Surely it’s “don’t talk to strangers!” or “Stranger Danger!” What could he possibly mean by “the power of a stranger?”

Perhaps it’s a reflection of how society has stepped out of its way to support others. Maybe because we’ve all become more appreciative of those around us, especially those who care for the sick and vulnerable, those who keep our shop shelves filled, and provide hand sanitiser at every shop doorway. We made rainbows to put in our windows, created meals for the housebound, and ran errands for those who were not willing to venture outside of their home. There have been notices stuck onto Lamp posts with offers of help to others –all to people we didn’t know beforehand, to strangers. 

Perhaps this reality is more noticeable, because we are more used to relying on family and friends for support rather  than strangers. If someone needs a lift, a babysitter, their car pulled out in the snow, a tyre changed, we would readily help if we could. With our friends, there is perhaps an unwritten reciprocity. Taking it in turns to look after each other’s children, swapping books and Netflix recommendations. Or maybe it’s homemade food when you’re sick, or help to decorate a room. 

But here we are offering our time, energy and our money to help others, most of whom are strangers, knowing that it won’t be repaid. And it’s a good feeling knowing that you’ve helped someone. 

It’s really grace in action, giving help to someone who is unable to do anything in return. It’s giving to those people you used to wave to, but didn’t know their name. 

But what about those you would never wave to?

Would we give to everyone the same?

Would we help the car owner who parks across our driveway? 

Would we help someone who uses the last of the milk in the office fridge, and puts the empty carton back? 

Would we support the one who jumps into the taxi in front of us bypassing the queue? 

There are small irritations (or not!) in the grand scheme of things. But it raises a question. Do we offer our help unconditionally? Or only to those who have earned it? 

A challenging thought indeed!

But God has shown us how much he loves us—it was while we were still sinners that Christ died for us! I love that this verse says “still sinners”. 

Meaning that the people He died for weren’t good, holy or even His friends. It means that we are the undeserving ones whom God reaches down to save, regardless of race, creed or status. And his grace is transformational! He takes the pauper and makes them a prince, takes the sinner and makes them a saint, takes the enemy and makes them a friend. 

It is not unlike the power of a stranger towards those who couldn’t help themselves, and who didn’t deserve it. 

It’s from His power we receive power to do the same for others.