Do you recall listening to, humming or even singing the line, "it's a small world after all"? If so, you'll probably remember the jaunty spirit-lifting feeling it evokes; after all, there's nothing like the excitement of making new connections in a big, big world. This week provided me with a prime example of the reality of that ditty.
I'd boarded our ferry en route to Vancouver Island and as far as I knew it was destined to a routine trip. I seated myself beside a window on the starboard side of the ship. A young lady I'd never seen before sat behind me; in front of me, an unknown couple. On my table my computer sat open as I attempted to add to an on-going project. Words didn't come easily and I found myself increasingly distracted by the couple's conversation. It wasn't English and although I thought I detected a few German words, it wasn't "quite". As the gentleman stood and moved closer to my table I asked in my best version of the language, "are you folks from Germany?"
"No," he responded, "we're from Denmark." I redeemed myself by welcoming them to Canada and then remarked that I'd just finished writing a family history book about a German Jewish man who'd been named after a Danish author. They asked more about the book and we chatted. That's when the young lady spoke up. "That was my grandfather".
The conversation now embraced four of us: two visitors, a transplant from Saskatchewan and the daughter of my client. It really is a small world after all. Just imagine what heaven will be like!
"I looked and behold a great multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples and tongues, standing before the Throne [of God] and before the Lamb [Christ Jesus]." (Revelation 7:10)
