Ghost In The Road Print

The drive back to our hotel from Yellowstone’s  Lamar Valley was harrowing. The sun was gone and darkness blanketed the winding way home. We snaked around curve after curve, my eyes peeled for any signs of movement. Then we saw a small coyote trotting down the middle of the road. As we came upon him, I slowed to a stop. He turned his head and stood frozen in the bright beam of our headlights. Time stood still. He looked at us and we looked at him, and for a brief moment, it felt like our souls made contact. It felt like we encountered a ghost in the road.

It’s been said that people are in our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. The ones we encounter for a reason are often brief connections. They help us through difficulty, supporting us emotionally, physically, or spiritually. When the time to move on comes, they disappear from our lives and they fade away, like a ghost in the road.

Have you had encounters like that, a limited interaction with someone that greatly impacted your life? I have an email folder filled with emails I’ve received over the years from total strangers who wrote me a note of encouragement that arrived when I needed it most. We are called to be that for others, a fellow traveler who takes the time to look them in the eyes, and say, “I see you. You matter. You’re doing great. Keep going.”

Your small act can be a game-changer in their life.