Random friends

It is the Irish poet, William Butler Yeats, who is credited with coining the phrase “There are no strangers, only friends you haven't met yet.” 

It sounds so quaint in a modern world where everyone is in their own little world, responding only to the notification pings on their various electronic devices.

But one Prince Edward Island broadcaster is seeking to prove the validity of the statement in a rather public, and unique way. He is randomly picking out names from the phone book and then calling that number to talk to whoever might answer the phone.

After explaining who he is and how he originated the call, he gets down to talking with and about the person on the other end of the line. Everyone has a story, he says, and folks are more than willing to tell that story if you dare to ask and are willing to listen.

I was somewhat surprised to hear that most people called in that random manner are willing to talk. I admit, I might be a bit apprehensive about telling too much to a total stranger on the other end of a phone line. But then I would probably be a little hesitant about making that call in the first place, fretting about who might answer and what would I say. And what if they didn't want to talk? But so far so good in getting people to play along.

The whole story about these random calls to strangers got me thinking about what stories we are missing in our communities because no one has taken the time to reach out, sit down, and listen to a neighbour.  

Those random telephone calls may have been made to strangers, but they often ended with saying goodbye to a new friend.

Frank Likely is a retired Anglican minister and past president of the Springhill and Area Chamber of Commerce.