After a long time, I had met him again at a retreat. I had shared some very personal experiences. That really touched him. At the end of the day, he came to me and said: "I would like to share with you an experience that happened a long time ago but is still going on. Over 30 years ago, someone I didn't know called me. 'Please, please, please don't hang up,' I heard, 'I haven't spoken to anyone for over three weeks and I just have to talk now! The stranger then spent over an hour telling me his story of suffering. At the end he said to me: 'Oh, thank you from the bottom of my heart for listening to me. That did me so much good!' Then we said goodbye. I still don't know who it was or where he lived. He simply dialled a number from the phone book. This distressing and hope-giving encounter has stayed with me deeply. To this day, I have prayed for this stranger and continue to do so!"
