Arriving in Seattle, Hassan, an Uber driver responded to my call. My destination, the Palisades retreat Center for my first session of a Mission formation program. We had a 30-minute drive ahead of us and curious about his accent, I asked Hassan where he was from. He responded in an open manner that he was from Sudan and he began to share a little of his story.
Hassan's home village is near a river where his grandmother farms the land. Hassan expressed worry that his grandmother is working too hard. “If she would only listen to me and sell her crops oversees, she would make a lot more money. Instead, she sells her vegetables to the local community for very little money.”
“Wow, it sounds like she cares more about her neighbors than making money. She is concerned about the people in her community and the common good of others. Perhaps, what matters most to her is seeing that her friends do not go hungry. What an extraordinary woman she is!” I observed. “Yes, she knows everyone in the village and the people all know and care about each other there.”
“Hassan, it seems like you are carrying a weight on your shoulders over this dilemma and you worry about your grandmother's well-being." "Yes, I am. I plan to visit soon and I will time my visit with the harvest, so I can help." I learned that both of Hassan’s parents had died but I did not wish to pry unless he chose to talk about it. He mentioned that his grandmother came to visit him for a few months but she was anxious to return because she missed home. “I have very few friends here. People communicate via social media. It is lonely.” "Yes, it can be. " I agreed. “Technology is a double edge sword. I enjoy glimpses of my friends and relatives lives who live far away but it has its limitations. Yet, it is incredible that you can google any topic and receive "how to" information at your fingertips. instantaneously; now that I love!”
Upon arrival at the retreat center, Hassan reached out to shake my hand, as a sense of mutual gratitude passed between us. In our short time together, we learned a little about each other’s lives and discovered a commonality in our values; our love of family and the meaningful essence of human connection that bonds us as family, one to another.
Liz Sorensen Wessel
Photo of Mount Rainier, taken from the plane
Journal of Sacred Work 
Leave a comment