Bringing God into – Central Park

My friend from New York City told me I broke 3 rules. The “Big 3”, he said.

What happened? I was sitting with a friend in Central Park, New York City, talking about our synagogues. A beautiful spring day.

Just then a man in his 40’s walked over to us, asking for some money. I took out my wallet and offered him some change.

He walked away a few steps when I suddenly called him back. “Could you just come over for a minute, I’d like to ask you a question?” (Rule #1 – don’t engage in conversation.) He came back.

“The t-shirt you’re wearing, with the one word in large letters on the front (“PRAY”), does it have any significance?”

“Absolutely. My church has a Pray-In once a year. They close off the streets next to the church and we go outside and pray together.”

“You go?”

“Absolutely.”

“Is it okay if I ask you another question – do you believe in God?” (Breaking Rule #2 – don’t talk about God in public.)

“Yes. I was reborn 5 years ago. Changed my life.”

“How does your belief impact your life?”

“Well, you see I’m going through a very hard time now. My first child, my daughter, was born 9 months ago. Then the economy got worse, lost my job, and now I’m struggling. God gives me strength and hope. I don’t know if I could get through this if not for my belief in God.”

He was on the verge of tears. We just held the silence for a few moments. Then I stood up and hugged him. (Rule #3 – no physical contact.) I felt a bit awkward hugging a stranger, but actually in the moments of talking we had ceased to be strangers to each other. The words from his heart had entered our hearts.

I whispered to him that I wanted to give him a blessing of strength and hope. We nodded to each other, separated, and he walked away.

My friend and I sat in silence, a bit stunned.

Then I returned to the conversation about her synagogues and asked her if she could go up to someone and ask those questions: Do you believe in God? How does this belief impact your life?

She replied that it would be very awkward to do so, even though, ostensibly, people are coming to synagogue to engage in precisely this relationship. She said most likely people would answer with a glib comment or joke. Maybe wonder what is up with her. It would be breaking an unspoken rule of social etiquette.

Since this encounter in Central Park I have been asking these 2 questions to many people – the guy I sat next to on the plane, the waiter in a coffee-shop, the cleaning woman at Starbucks. I’m continually shocked at how open and eager people are to engage in the conversation. How sincere and heart-felt are their replies.

Maybe the most important conversations – we’re just not having. Maybe we should break the rules a bit more often.

For Reflection:

• Have you ever asked anyone – Do you believe in God? How does this affect your life?
• Has anyone ever asked directly asked you these questions?
• How would you answer?