A Beautiful Moment Occurred On The #4 Subway Today.

I was coming to the end of my 1¾ hour ride that took me from Forest Hills to Woodland Cemetery to meet the NY Mycological Society and hunt for mushrooms. The ride was long, and I was getting anxious that I would be late for my walk.

As we neared the end of the line, a man walked the length of my car telling people who paid little attention of his hardships. He was dressed nicely, clean, and well spoken. “I need food, a few coins and prayers.” No one seemed to be paying attention. We’ve heard the same story hundreds of times before. We’ve become jaded!

A young woman sitting next to me suddenly spoke, “I can’t give you money, but I can pray with you.” She reached out her hands, he took hold, they bowed their heads and she prayed. Soft, sincere words, not from a memorized script, but words that came straight from her heart becoming a song of hope and love.

The solemn litany was quiet and healing, flowing from her lips on a path down her arms to the clasped hands, an offering made on clackity tracks rising above the noisy street close to the clouds.