June 18, 2023

Never Ignore the Nudge

I heard an interesting phrase on the radio this morning by someone who called in. The conversation was about what each of us can do to make a difference for someone else. How do we know what someone needs? How do we know if we should say something? Or what we should say? The advice from the caller: “Never ignore the nudge.”

Have you ever woken up thinking about someone, maybe someone you haven’t thought about for a long time? Did you call them or text them? Or have you seen a stranger with a great smile or amazing hair or a fantastic outfit? Did you tell them? Perhaps you were in the airport and saw someone breaking down, crying, hurting. Would you walk past them? Stare at them? Or would you stop and ask them, “Are you okay?”

Several weeks ago, I was at the airport in Philadelphia traveling to see my son and his family. My flight was to board in about 5 minutes, so I was hanging back from the crowd that was starting to gather around the desk. That’s when I heard the agonized sounds of someone in crisis. I looked around and realized they were coming from a slumped over figure sitting on the floor to my left. A number of other people heard it, too, and as I looked around at them, I saw people staring, snickering. My heart broke a little for the woman on the floor, so I walked over to her. I leaned down and quietly asked, “Are you okay?”

She looked up at me, with tears streaming down her face and paused for just a moment before saying, “No, I don’t think I am.” It was an honest answer. She told me she had been at the airport all day, had missed her flight, got another one but had the wrong gate number and just missed it again. She had recently lost both her parents and was just trying to get to Tampa. She was clearly in crisis, and I wanted to help her but, in truth, there wasn’t anything I could do. Or so I thought. I sat with her for a few moments and let her talk. I held her hand and looked in her eyes and told her that I wished there was something I could do. She gave me a small smile and said, “Thank you. I do, too.”

She took a deep breath and exhaled. I told her that I believed she would get there. And I told her I would pray for her. She touched my arm and smiled again as I stood up to go board my flight. As I was walking to the gate, I saw her wipe her eyes and stand up. I don’t know her name, but I did pray for her, and I believe she made it to Tampa. Could I get her on a flight? No, but I could see her, and let her know that someone cared. In that moment I was nudged to see her, hear her, and carry just a bit of her burden for a few minutes. Sometimes, that’s all we need.

I was nudged that day to show kindness and compassion to a stranger. The funny thing is, I think it brought me as much joy as it brought to her. To be able to care for someone, show them a smile, extend a hand of friendship is what we are called to do as human beings. We have all been that woman at the airport feeling alone, frustrated, in crisis. What would it have meant to you to have someone stop and offer a shoulder to lean on? To show you some empathy and love? I have been blessed to be on the receiving the end of that, too. Maybe that’s why I felt compelled to help that woman, to respond to the nudge.

There is a deep joy that comes from helping, serving another person, even if only to let them know they are seen, heard, and valued. That’s love, my friends. And when we feel the nudge to show love, whether in the form of a call or text to tell someone they are on your heart, lifting someone’s spirits with a compliment, or asking someone struggling if they are okay. Never ignore the nudge. It takes but a moment but the impact it has on them can make all the difference in the world. Be brave. Be kind.