The life I touch for good or ill will touch another life, and that in turn another, until who knows where the trembling stops or in what far place my touch will be felt.
–Frederick Buechner
How has your life touched someone who was surprisingly distant from you?
I choose to name someone now far distant from me but who, by circumstance, has become so. About 10 years ago, I was fortunate to be a student of the Russian language in my home town with the assistance of an international student, Lillia Alishiva, for a year. During that time, we met weekly on friendly terms and I also followed her US travels during her vacations from her academic work. Returning to Moscow University after this time, she let me know that she had been awarded a three year stay in China to (1) first year, learn Chinese, to be followed up with other studies the next two years. I am still wondering what road in life she has taken.