Fleeting, Meaningful Moments

I have grown to love the DCSC program for many reasons. My ministry site, Little Friends for Peace gives me valuable work experience and meaningful insights into the human experience. The Casa community gives me unconditional support and a new family in an unfamiliar place. But one of the most underrated aspects of living in Washington, DC is the opportunity to have fleeting, meaningful moments with strangers. These instances give a sense of hope that generally, people are drawn into community with each other. To illustrate this point, I would like to share a few examples of these moments that I hold dear.

One evening, the DCSC volunteers and I attended a live music social event at a local restaurant. Even though we were easily the youngest people there, we found that plenty of people welcomed us into their conversations. In particular, I met a couple who live in Fairfax and work in government positions. While we could not talk too much about that, they were very interested in our volunteer program, and we shared stories about growing up in religious households and having a deep sense of justice. 

After attending a panel on holding hope in the election season, a gentleman invited me to a night vigil, holding the lives of those who have died in Israel and Palestine. We biked furiously through Northwest DC trying to make it in time, but on the way, he took time to point out some noteworthy spots on our route. An old theatre that plays famous movies. An Ethiopian restaurant that serves a delicious, filling meal for a bargain. A sculpture dedicated to world peace. Unfortunately, we missed the vigil, but I enjoyed an evening of fast-flying fun.

At the Annual Holiday Tree Lighting downtown, the Casa community and I met some folks around our age who had found a great spot to stand for the festivities. We took turns going to the EventsDC tents to collect free popcorn to share. Once the performances began, we joyously added our voices and dance moves to songs that matched the holiday spirit!

After work one Friday, I went out to dinner with a friend, and his roommate joined us. He had heard about some of my strongly held convictions, and he was curious about them, as we did not hold all of the same ones. We took turns asking each other questions, eagerly learning to understand someone who has a unique perspective. This is the earliest in an interaction I have had such a deep and vulnerable conversation about how we show up in the world. At the end of the night, we shared mutual respect, and while we had not fundamentally changed how we thought, we incorporated some of the truth and care we recognized in the other’s position. I can now call this person a friend!

Even in a big city where everyone is busy with something, I can point to many moments where even strangers have chosen connection over isolation.

Question for Reflection: When have you experienced an unexpected moment of connection?