The opposite of strangeness is oneness. The learners of oneness have no place for strangeness.  Thats why Guru Arjan says, "There is no stranger." Everything appears to be acceptable.  The will has been accepted.

On the other hand, strangeness is often shared among parties estranged.  Whoever you feel is strange also feels you are strange.  Dialogs, smiles and love can build bridges; but if those bridges are not built, the two banks surrounding a river keep apart.  Two people who do not speak, remain strangers. 

Thats why Walt Whitman pleads to the stranger who wants to talk to him: "Stranger, if you, passing, meet me, and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me? And why should I not speak to you?"

People who come across each other, and neighbors who live next door, have been brought together.  Then why do they remain estranged? 

Here are two poems from Jim Shields, a poet whose name you probably have not heard.  More on him below the poem.  The first one about strangeness, and the second about oneness.


More On Jim Shields: His first book was published in 2009 and he was most recently the chief commercial officer of a pharmaceutical company called Spectrum Pharmaceuticals, for which I currently work.  His poetry is beautiful -- it oozes everyday wisdom in a way I have not seen from any poet.  Look for "Knothole Relections On Life's Parade" -- thats the name of his book.  And if you can't find it, send a message to me and I will try to get a copy for you.

                                      To You
STRANGER! if you, passing, meet me, and desire to speak to me, why should you not speak to me?  
And why should I not speak to you?

Here is something I recomrded today.  It is the first song that I learned and it continues to teach me today that the purpose of life is to sing.  I was recording this today on my dad's 68th birthday to thank him for giving me the gift of music.  My dad was the one who asked my first music teacher to come home when I was very young to learn kirtan.  Here is the recording from today (and following is the meaning of the song):



बिसरि गई सभ ताति पराई ॥
Bisar ga▫ī sabẖ ṯāṯ parā▫ī.
I have totally forgotten my jealousy of others

जब ते साधसंगति मोहि पाई ॥१॥ रहाउ ॥
Jab ṯe sāḏẖsangaṯ mohi pā▫ī. ||1|| rahā▫o.
since I found the Saadh Sangat, the Company of the Holy. ||1||Pause||

ना को बैरी नही बिगाना सगल संगि हम कउ बनि आई ॥१॥
Nā ko bairī nahī bigānā sagal sang ham ka▫o ban ā▫ī. ||1||
No one is my enemy, and no one is a stranger. I get along with everyone. ||1||

जो प्रभ कीनो सो भल मानिओ एह सुमति साधू ते पाई ॥२॥
Jo parabẖ kīno so bẖal māni▫o eh sumaṯ sāḏẖū ṯe pā▫ī. ||2||
Whatever God does, I accept that as good. This is the sublime wisdom I have obtained from the Holy. ||2||

सभ महि रवि रहिआ प्रभु एकै पेखि पेखि नानक बिगसाई ॥३॥८॥
Sabẖ mėh rav rahi▫ā parabẖ ekai pekẖ pekẖ Nānak bigsā▫ī. ||3||8||
The One God is pervading in all. Gazing upon Him, beholding Him, Nanak blossoms forth in happiness. ||3||8|