I did not realize how much I missed hearing my name called
out in the grocery store until this morning.
“Cris, Cris Nole!” The sound of a
somewhat familiar voice came from behind
me. A hug to my heart as my new friend
greeted me with a warm hello.
Coming from a community where I lived for almost 17 years,
going to the store without running into someone I knew was virtually impossible.
I learned about ten years into being a resident
of my last community that it was important for me to leave extra time to visit
with people in the market, gas station, parks and sidewalks. These connections gave me the sense of
belonging that every human being longs for.
Needless to say, yesterday when I heard my voice floating
through the air at the local super market, I felt like I was at home for the
first time since moving to our new community.
It had been over three months since I ran into someone I knew. It has been lonely at times, standing in line
with my groceries and not recognizing a single soul.
Hear me out. It is not
that I have this need to hear my name as much as the need to connect into community. I love people, strangers are just friends I
have not met yet. This is why leaving
my life, as I knew it after all these years was not easy.
However, I am able to celebrate a new chapter in my life, all because someone called my name out loud. I am looking
forward to hearing my name more in the middle of the market, at the mailbox and
on the sidewalks. When I hear my name, I
will know that I am connecting more into my new community.
Cris
