Over the summer we attended the musical production, Come From Away, which was playing at our local playhouse. The majority of the cast were part of the original 2017 Broadway show. In addition, in the audience that night was one of the real-life “characters” who then gave a Q&A afterwards.

Come From Away is the story of the people and visitors to Gander, Newfoundland during and immediately after the 9/11 attacks. In the twentieth century, Gander had been the stop-over refueling place for transatlantic flights. The town grew up around the airstrip. During WWII it was heavily used, but in the intervening years as airplanes traveled farther distances and didn’t need to stop to refuel, Gander returned back to a small island community of hearty, self-sufficient souls.

When all the airspace in North America was grounded after the first attack on Tuesday morning, September 11, 2001, all international flights to the US were diverted to Gander. In a space of very little time, the town had to receive an additional 7,000 internationals deplaning from 38 planes, plus 11 dogs, 9 cats and 2 bonobo apes. What follows in the musical is the story of the next five days or so as the towns people opened their homes and hearts to these strangers.

The experience changed the life of one of the passengers, “Kevin”, who is one of the stories featured in the musical. The real Kevin was the gentleman who spoke after the show. Shortly after returning to his home and company in Texas, he started giving his workers money on 9/11 to do some good- to “pay it forward”. He also started a non-profit, payitforward9/11.org that encourages random acts of kindness:

Our vision is to help develop communities where harmony grows through individual "pay it forward" actions, and the ripple effect they cause.

Our mission is to promote random acts of kindness and compassion every September 11th to honor lives lost in the 9/11 attacks by performing three good deeds for strangers, asking them to pay it forward by doing the same and creating a ripple effect. [From the website: https://www.payitforward911.org/]

Watching the musical had me thinking. Namely, would I be so generous and open of my home and heart to strangers in need? There was a lot of fear and speculation among the passengers which the musical touched upon. But the generosity of strangers overrode the fear and brought the people together. In the Q&A that followed, it was evident that real community and connection among some of the passengers and the Newfoundlanders developed and because the characters are based on real people from Gander, there even developed a connection with the cast of the show and their real-life counterparts. Just playing the role of these remarkable people changed the performers. Many of the former passengers, Newfoundlanders and musical cast are still in touch with one another.

Watching the show brought back memories of the past. I remembered a pervasive fear during those September days- could you trust someone who looked like those terrorists or anyone who is “different”? I also remembered the connection that pulled communities together- the helping of those who were afraid. There are definitely bad apples in the world. But there are also many generous souls, who think, what if that were me? What if I were stranded in a place where I knew no one, didn’t even know where the place was located and didn’t even speak the language?

As the musical unfolded, they shared the story of a plane of African people. In divvying up the passengers among the different housing options-school, churches, homes, camp grounds- these folks were to be transported to stay at a Salvation Army camp ground. By the time all the arrangements were made, it was late at night. The Africans were extremely frightened from having to travel a distance from the plane, in the pitch dark, with a bunch of strangers who didn’t speak their language. At first they refused to get off the bus until one of the workers recognized that one of the ladies was carrying a Bible. The Newfoundlander asked to see the Bible and then proceeded to find Philippians 4:6 to which he pointed in the text and shared with the woman. Even though the Newfoundlanders and the Africans couldn’t speak to one another, the Bible verse calmed the fears of the group. “Be anxious for nothing.”

I think if I were those passengers, I would’ve clung to my Bible too. I would’ve been frightened and anxious. Please Lord, help me, I would’ve been praying. Keep me safe. If I were one of the Ganders, I would’ve also been frightened and anxious. Please Lord, guide me, I would’ve been praying. Protect all who are opening their homes and are vulnerable to the strangers. I would’ve been wondering- what is happening in the world? When the planes were first grounded, all parties- Newfoundlanders and passengers- had no idea what had happened. They may have been anxious, yet instead of shutting down and wallowing in their anxiety, the people of Gander had compassion for those who landed and opened up their town.

I think of how Jesus, God dwelling with us on earth, reminded us to welcome the stranger, to care for those who are vulnerable, to do for others what we wish were done for us.

I think now of these troubling days when people are frightened- from what they have heard or seen or just anticipate. For those who are frightened of others who may not look, sound or believe what they believe. Frightened individuals, who are strangers in a strange land. Do we turn away, shutting down and wallow in our anxiety of those who are “different”? Or do we meet that fear with love- love for our fellow humankind? Are we willing to do for them what we would like to have done to us in the same situation? To have compassion (a stirring in the belly) on those who may not be as we are.

What about you? Have you ever been in a situation that depended upon the kindness of strangers? Have you ever been kind and supportive of a stranger? What happened? Have you ever had to communicate with strangers without using words? What was the common language?

The people of Gander were no more special than you or I. Perhaps they just had a little more faith in one another. We all have opportunities to help those around us- regardless if we know them or not. This month, we are coming upon the 24th anniversary of 9/11. May you be inspired to practice kindness to those around you- especially to the stranger in a strange land. For when you think about it, we all come from away.