Each Person Has His Own Story

On a number of occasions I have heard Barbara Wright, an evangelist at Saint Patrick Parish in Providence (RI), say that everyone has his own story. While I was already very well aware of that, I probably would have phrased it a little differently. However, I've taken to using her description when the subject comes up.

Recently I read an article in Yankee Magazine in which a similar phrase was used. Justin Shatwell wrote an article "The Memory Keeper," which is about Joe Manning, who has been working to find out what happened to the children in photos of child laborers taken by photographer Lewis Hine. In this article, Mr. Shatwell writes "Deep down, everyone has an interesting story to tell, but sometimes it takes a talented listener to draw it out."

There is far more truth to this than most of us are aware. Sometimes, while on the bus, I get little glimpses of a few of these stories as I hear snatches of conversation around me. Stories in the media (such as the one referred to in the previous post about the Southbury high school student with a strong interest in the Civil War) bring to light some of these stories, but most remain hidden - known to the persons themselves and perhaps some associates in the same field of interest.

They are there nonetheless (including countless hidden acts of kindness), and they will eventually come to light - if not in this life, then at the General Judgment, when the Lord will reveal the completed tapestry that He is weaving with all the different threads He is working with in the lives of each of us.

To access "The Memory Keeper" (which is a good article) from Yankee, please visit:

Yankee Magazine: The Memory Keeper (March-April 2011)