Nine years ago I had the privilege to live with a family in Southern India for a month.  Within the first couple of days of being there, the father brought me to each of his friend and family member’s homes.  Each home welcomed me like no other welcome I’ve ever experienced.  Every new home I visited had strings of flowers, Rangoli (colored sand designs and messages) along the entrances and a Puja ceremony awaiting me.  

On my second day in India he brought me to a wedding of a friend of his.  The event was spectacular, with hundreds in attendance fully immersed in color, sweet fragrance and good wishes.  I learned that he did not know the couple all that well and I had the urge to stay in the periphery of the event (worried for my standing out and grabbing attention as the only Caucasian looking person there).  I tried not to attract attention, and allow the bride and groom to have full focus.  Despite my attempts to blend in, I was immediately brought up to the center of the celebration, and asked to partake in the ceremony with the couple on the stage.

I’ve learned that in Hinduism, the stranger is regarded as divine.  The visitor is welcomed not just as a passing stranger, but a welcomed and honored guest.  Strangers are our most unique relationships in that we can learn from them like no other.  Strangers allow us to open up our experience of the world, give us new perspective, opportunity.  Hindus believe that two of the most highly honored relationships in our lives are with strangers and our enemies.  From who else can you most be stretched, and get a glimpse of what you don't know you don't know?