ken and nancy

The light was deep and gold, and the shadows stretched long, and I was starting to get that ol’ end-of-the-day, where-am-I-gonna-sleep anxiety.  Turns out Ohio’s pretty flat and doesn’t have a lot of trees, which adds a whole other level of stealth to stealth camping. It’s such a vulnerable feeling, searching for a place to sleep along the road.

I passed a man and woman working in their front yard, and they gave me a friendly wave. I was struck with a pang of longing. Look at these nice, normal people finishing up their chores. I bet they’re gonna go inside and eat dinner in a cozy dining room. And here I am, all alone, looking for a place to pitch my tent before it gets dark.

I should ask them if I can camp in their yard, I thought.

No, don’t, I thought.

They seem nice though! They actually acknowledged me.

Don’t be a freeloader.

For camping in their yard?

The road ahead crested and sank through empty farmland.

You know what? Worst that happens, they say no, and I’m no worse off than I am right now.

And so I doubled back. They were still there, and they gave me a smile as I slowed to a stop at the foot of their driveway.

“Excuse me,” I said. “Can I ask you a question? My name is Brooke, and I’m biking across the country. I’m looking for a place to camp for the night. Could I camp in your backyard?”

“Only if you agree to play for our high school basketball team!” laughed the man.

And that’s how I met Ken and Nancy.

Without a trace of hesitation, they offered me a spot in their yard… and a shower, a conversation, a giant bag of snacks, and a $200 donation to Represent the Village.

I laid in my tent that night and laughed at myself. Back in Oberlin, I’d perused satellite photos and asked a waitress where the safest place to camp might be. But when I decided to just wing it, a pair of complete strangers gave me $200. More than that, they gave me sanctuary. They extended kindness to someone who was lonely and afraid.

I don’t think kindness is inherent. Nor, for that matter, is cruelty. Or maybe they both are, lying dormant in our nature like seeds in the earth. What I do think is inherent is our power to choose which of these qualities to cultivate. But what is kindness without someone to receive it? By asking for help, and accepting it with gratitude and grace, we’re giving kindness a place to grow.

Thank you, Ken and Nancy, for treating a stranger with love.