Coming into San Francisco we had a Lions Club speaking engagement lined up, but no place to stay. Our route brought us by the Parkside Community Church and I suggested to Ky at the end of the day that might be a place for us to stay.
Ky contacted the church, but instead of staying there we were adopted by the church’s secretary, Teri Guida. What made this gesture particularly striking was that she hosted us while the rest of her family was away, including husband Jim. This highlights one of the virtues necessary for kindness, courage in the form of going outside your comfort zone.
I’m not saying everyone should bring anyone they meet into their homes. We obviously had some built in credibility that would assuage the concerns of most, but befriending strangers of any background still involves some element of risk. Teri accepted that risk and made us feel like family in the process. Our conversation around the dinner table that evening was genuinely warm and we now continue on as Facebook friends in this high tech age. In fact, I think I’ll share this on her page.
Thanks Teri!
