A man named Ray, and his 40 words
I hung out at the [redacted] sometimes. It's a local establishment for housing insecure and homeless people. [redacted] & I liked hanging out sometimes.
I met a man named Ray. He mumbled so bad, I could barely understand him. He seemed like a kind person, spiritual, religious maybe. He spoke of "40 words" (or was it 20?) that were meaningful, impactful, and important.
I don't remember the words. I think they come from his Christian faith. Things like "forgiveness" and "compassion" and "kindness", I think.
I think of Ray sometimes. I wish I remembered the 10 or so words he did share. I wish I understood his mumbles & knew the significance he saw.
Some of them have been bubbling up for me lately, I think. Forgiveness is important. So is compassion. Love. Kindness.
Were they a foundation for a meaningful life? I'll keep wondering, and I think I'll never know. But maybe I'll work on my own list one day.
I wonder if Ray is alive, or if he has any idea the impact he's had on me, still thinking of him 5 or 6 years later, and his words that he was so passionate about.
Thank you Ray.
P.S. A pastor or speaker at a funeral today gave two lists of about 10 words from Galations (spelling?), from the Christian bible. Maybe that's a start.
P.P.S. I'm an atheist, but I've rediscovered spirituality & prayer in the last couple months, and have grown to appreciate it deeply, and to respect the spirituality that lives within the religious myths.