i was frozen in traffic much of the day, many hours waiting at a single stoplight. eventually, a rail thin man of uncertain age and complexion knocked on my window. and i tried to ignore him.

then he knocked again, more insistently. and i tried even harder to ignore him.

then, upon the third knock, i noticed that he wasn’t asking me for money. he was simply asking what had i to offer to the world.

so i rolled down the window, just a hair, and i said, that’s really an excellent question. would you mind repeating it so that i can make sure i am answering correctly?

and he said, let me rephrase the question: what you are most afraid of?

gosh, i said, i’m not really sure how to answer that…. (long pause). i guess i’m afraid of things that scare me.

but as soon as I said that, the light had changed and i had no choice but to move with the flow of traffic, with a sorrowful feeling that he would knock no more.