Becoming Remus Lupin: Friend of strangers #MNBHP

Lupin strolled away from the bed and over to the werewolf, who had no visitors and was looking rather wistfully at the crowd around Mr. Weasley…” 

OotP

Lupin was visiting one sick friend but, seeing a lonely man in need of companionship, stepped out to be a friend to a stranger. A stranger who had also been bitten by a werewolf and was facing isolation and estrangement. Lupin chose not to ignore him but to embrace him in hopes that he could help the man.

How often do we pass by those we can help but we choose not to? Either for convenience sake or because we don’t know the person? The thing is, everyone is a stranger until we get to know them. And only by opening ourselves up to others can we turn strangers into friends.

CHALLENGE

Turn a stranger into a friend. Find someone who sits alone in the cafeteria and have lunch with them. Invite the new guy at work out for a cup of coffee. When you’re visiting a friend at the hospital and they’re sharing their room with someone who is all alone, make sure to greet that person and, if possible, strike up a conversation. Don’t let people be lonely when you’re able to show them love. Be like Lupin, be a friend to strangers.

Disclaimer: Obviously this doesn’t mean to be careless about your safety. Take into consideration your age. If you are a child, make sure that you are approaching other children in a safe environment, not adults. Or that you have an adult with you. Safety first! But most times our not being kind to people we don’t know isn’t a safety issue, it’s a heart issue.

Next Week: Becoming Neville Longbottom: Most improved