Every day is a testament to this quote:

"Be kinder than necessary, because everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle." - J.M. Barry 

The other day I met a woman whose guilt about her "sin" of obesity was preventing her from undergoing life saving surgery.  Apparently she was not a necessary referral to the hematology clinic.  The doctor had to leave the room for a moment to take a call, so I tried to use that urgent moment to get the patient to open up more; as she was able to let things out, including the core of her struggles with the issue, I was able to share with her my understanding about addiction not just being "in your head," and wasn't just a matter of lack of willpower, and was not just "her fault."  What I should have added, now that I think about it, was that sin often is sin because it hurts others, but sometimes it's because it hurts us.  Sin is supposed to kill us, yes, but it doesn't have to, because there is a way out.  We are allowed to ask for help, regardless of whether we deserve saving or not.  Anyway, by the end of the brief visit, I believe I saw the click of a switch in her eyes, and it was really amazing.

Little town, it's a quiet village; every day like the one before...

It's true, that you can fall a little in love with a stranger.  Standing in the same tiny shop where everyone word sounds as close and clear as if spoken face to face, you can learn 5 different things about someone without even saying hello.  Then the moment is over, and paths part ways, and you are still just as much strangers as before.

Small towns can leave you wondering too.  So much beauty can be packed into so small a space, and yet the grey sunlight only gives you glimpses at a time.  The sleepy air forces you to slow down to its pace and notice every detail, color, smell, and curve of the road.