STORIES OF HUMANITY

We had already pumped gas in the RV and were ready to leave when a woman—perhaps in her early to mid-40’s—approached us and asked for literature about the Journey. Upon fulfilling her small request, her eyes contemplatively glanced through our tri-fold flyer, appearing as though she was reading it. It seemed, however, that she already knew its contents because her mind had drifted, and the writing on the flyer had instigated her brief moments of quiet reflection. This was refreshing for us because many individuals with whom we’ve interacted throughout our journey have been oblivious even to the meaning of the word “genocide.” Although many others have been aware, none reacted like this woman: a loud and striking silence prevailed as she stood, suspended in her emotions. After a few moments of such pondering, her voice gently punctured the cloud of her thoughts, breaking the silence, and she asked, “Are you just walking or are you planning visits with any leaders in D.C.?”
“Not just in D.C., but en route as well. We will hold rallies and speak to elected representatives,” responded Levon.

She looked away for a moment, still with the same contemplative face, quickly placed something in Levon’s hands, and with a mere “Good Luck,” hurried away like dreams escaping the mind upon waking from sleep. She left without mention of her name or the reasons for her action (or reaction). After this fleeting second of surprise, when Levon had enough time to realize what had just happened, he opened his hands to see the gift she had left us: two $5 bills and her gas receipt—everything that was in her hand. We pondered about this for a while thereafter. Why had she darted away? What was the reason for her deep contemplation? Why was she so obviously moved? Was she a descendent of a genocide survivor? Was she an activist or perhaps a concerned citizen who wanted to demonstrate her support? We can only say with certainty that she was struck by what she read and was abruptly moved to act. As to why? —We don’t know.

Upon reflecting on our own questions, why did we think this was a story worth writing about? After all, it was a $10 donation, which is only a drop in the bucket of the financial resources we need for this project. Furthermore, it may seem like a gesture that anyone may make. The truth of the matter is that even such a simple situation occurs so infrequently that it strikes us. People often think that if they cannot afford to offer their services or financial assistance in great amounts, than it’s not worth offering at all. Why did we think her reaction to be odd, relative to others we’ve witnessed, when it shouldn’t be an anomaly? Well, perhaps because we’ve witnessed such an abundance of apathy. Here, I’m reminded of Edmund Burke’s famous words, “Nobody made a greater mistake than [s]he who did nothing because [s]he could only do a little.” Our anonymous supporter did something and we thank her for her contribution to humanity.

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