In the course of our lives, even up to today, how many people have we met? Think of all the situations and people. We may not always choose these encountered people, but we are brought together through a great number of situations. And many of these can last a lifetime.

The connection between us is important, whether face to face or through social media or just a letter. It is in our relations with others that we discover our own weaknesses and our goodness. We are confronted by what others see – as in a mirror. A friend I had in the navy was very honest with those around him. And could make a person uncomfortable. But he was forthright and therefore a great person to help expose what was good or bad, or needed better effort. We can imagine that we are hiding ourselves from full view, but that is simply in our minds. We are exposed anyway. This honesty from my friend was at first disconcerting but I appreciated the honesty that others would not offer.

There are people who we meet that even after great lapses of time will appear to have only been gone a mere day, because their personality is such. Also a person of this nature we are comfortable with. Someone we may not even need to speak but simply be in each other’s company without feeling we have to keep an artificial conversation. The connection here is very simply.

No matter the circumstances, we are not the same people following a meeting with someone. It is up to us to decide if we will let this change us for the better in some way. If we choose to ignore it, we will be the same – or if used we could, potentially, be better for it. We are always or nearly always, afraid of risk. But if we can trust just a little, and step out of the boat like St Peter, then we receive a new perspective.

Change may be uncomfortable, but it can bring blessings. Fear kept Peter in the boat. The words of and trust in the Master allowed him to step on to the water – and be changed!