First Baptist Church of Herndon

A Common Thread

Linda Soller | Feb 11, 2019

My husband and I recently spent a week in Indianapolis. The trip was all about him. It’s a city I have passed through, but never visited. We managed to be there for the record breaking cold and a surprise snow storm. By Saturday, the weather had warmed, and my husband suggested we drive around and visit a local yarn shop, Broad Ripple Knits. This was a perfect suggestion to brighten my week. When I entered the store, I was greeted by Karen who was friendly, knowledgeable, and who seemed so happy that this out of towner had dropped by. Immediately I felt comfortable. Knitting provided a common thread for us. We were connected by our shared interest.

To be honest I went on our trip with no expectation of making any connections. We were there for a purpose, it required we stay a few days and that was that. I packed books, knitting, and had my work computer to keep me busy. My plan didn’t really include other people. In hind sight it strikes me as tragic that I went with that attitude. The morning we left I finally asked the name of the wonderful lady who worked at the hotel. I should have known her name by then. I can talk to just about anyone, but that’s not the same as connecting or finding a common thread.

It’s so easy to criticize people without knowing where they are coming from, how they reached their current situation. You can’t really understand what you don’t know. Perhaps the solution comes in trying to identify the common threads that tie us together.  If we can’t walk in another’s shoes maybe, we could imagine what it would be like to try them on. I believe all people have hopes and dreams, that parents want to be able to provide for their families, that families don’t want to live where their lives are in danger, and that we need to spend more time on the positive and less on the negative. I think the great human common thread runs long and deep and is stronger than we can imagine. But we each must reach out and hold on to it.

Have a great week?  :o) Linda

P.S. – Yes, I did purchase yarn!  If ever in Broad Ripple, IN you should stop by the shop and maybe you too will have the good fortune of meeting Karen.  www.broadrippleknits.com