No one is a stranger

I work in the United Nations Organization, in one of its agencies in Rome, which has offices in more than 80 countries. We are the largest agency of food aid in the world. We operate not only in developing countries, but also anywhere there are victims of natural disasters or man-made crises like war.

My daily working environment is multiethnic, multiracial, multilingual, and multi-religious. In my daily activity I try to keep an attitude of openness towards others, reminding myself constantly that for God, no one is a stranger. This helps me to be more attentive to those who are newcomers to Italy or, more generally, to those in need.

At the beginning of winter, there was an e-mail circulating in our offices which contained a request for a kerosene heater. It was for a family in great financial difficulty, living in a small house with no heat, not far from my place.
There are certain appeals one just cannot ignore. I felt this one was addressed to me directly, especially when I realized that I could truly do something about it. I therefore registered that memo in my mind.

A surprise came the next day. When I opened my computer on the buy-and-sell announcements for the private use of our organization’s personnel, I read that a French colleague of mine was selling a kerosene heater for € 130. It was quite unusual to find such an article in our buy-and-sell index! It really seemed to be an answer to the previous day’s request… I immediately thought that that announcement, which was directed to our 1000 staff members, was actually addressed to me.

I decided to tell my officemates about the situation and suggest that each of us contribute to buy the heater. They rallied around, and in half a day we were able to raise € 85! 
Since God never stops amazing us, the next day, when I phoned my colleague to tell him about the whole thing, he said that in view of the situation he would lower the price of the heater to only € 50. I decided to look for the fuel for the heater, and it cost exactly € 35!

I have another different, but significant experience. It involves K., a Nigerian Muslim colleague. He began to work in my office some years ago. From the beginning we had a good relationship. Often, during break-time, we would find ourselves sharing our spiritual experiences in a climate of profound respect for each other’s culture. We felt that each accepted and understood the other as he was, with his diversities, and was free to express all the personal richness he had.

Two years ago, K. was transferred to Sudan, a country with 97% Muslims. We continued keeping in touch. Last year, at 6 o’clock on Easter morning the phone rang: “Hello, my dear friend! Happy Easter to you and your family!” I reciprocated by extending to him my best wishes for the forthcoming Ramadan.

Recently, K. was transferred to Uganda. I wrote to congratulate him for this promotion to a new work experience. Last month I called him on the phone, and after talking about technical matters, I inquired about his new job situation, home life and whether or not there was a mosque nearby where he could go and pray. He thanked me for my concern and he shared some of his experiences in his new country where the majority was Christian. From a distance our common desire to put into practice the “golden rule” – “do unto others what you would have others do unto you.” binds us together. This helps us both to reach out to others, no matter what nation they belong to.

(T.T. – Italy)