How a Chance Encounter Turned Into a Lifelong Friendship

This interview was conducted in 2021 by the Volunteer Ministry Center of Knoxville. Volunteer Ministry Center’s mission is “to facilitate permanent supportive housing for those who are homeless and to provide services to prevent homelessness.”

He was often found near the downtown area of Knoxville, sleeping on a cold, black, painted metal frame of a bench in Krutch Park. On the other side of town was an energetic entrepreneur operating successful business as a chiropractic specialist. Little did each know that their lives would intersect someday. They would meet, however, at the intersection they both had in common.

Daniel is a thirteen-year resident in Volunteer Ministry Center’s permanent supportive housing opportunity - residing at Minvilla Manor. His life of the past thirteen years is much different than his early childhood and teenage days. Hearing the retelling of those childhood experiences pales against words like tragic, harmful, if not horrific. Such childhood traumas makes for a very difficult adulthood.

As a young adult, Daniel was often seen wandering aimlessly through the streets of Knoxville. Led my delusional thoughts, he had difficulty navigating the world that we think we master. In turn, he became the master of this own creative universe, assuming alter-egos, even the divine, if necessary.

Poorly clothed with ill-fitting shoes and in a universe of one, Daniel seemed destined to wander the streets with a premature death promised. At least on his side of town.

“In Jewish history, there are no coincidences,” declares writer, Nobel laureate, and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel. For Dr. Craig Hennie, there are no coincidences in explaining the intersection of his life and Daniel’s - or as he knows him, Dan.

This is how he remembers the day he first met Dan.

“I believe there are coincidences,” Craig confidently says, recalling his first introduction to Daniel through a good friend, Ron. “Dan was delusional, aloof, and would not speak directly to me at first.” Dan had been befriended by caring folks from a local church and Craig was being invited to be a part, if not take the lead role, as Ron was moving out of town.

Ron had become somewhat of a “surrogate mouthpiece” between the group and Dan. If someone spoke to Dan, his reply was directed to Ron with Ron echoing the reply. “I just didn’t know how or if being a part of Dan’s lift would work,” Craig lamented. “I just didn’t know, but I believe there were no coincidences. I believe that Dan and I were meeting for a purpose.”

Since there are no coincidences for Craig, he understood that being part of Daniel’s life could only be fulfilled through a sense of “calling.” Through answering a call means relying on some divine help, it still doesn’t make the task any easier. Craig admitted, “This is going to be hard to do.”

How would they connect? What would they have in common?

For several decades Craig has had a successful practice as a chiropractic specialist. Coming from a loving and supportive family of origin that continues to mold him today, he is mindful of his blessings - a family that loves him and the “good things” of life that come with success. Such blessings had not been showered upon Dan.

Craig says, “I saw Daniel as being extremely vulnerable when we first met. Sometimes I still do.” Expecting an answer to our question of what has worked for them over the years to be somewhat cliche or rote - like “be strong, hang in there, be resilient” - Craig’s humble acknowledgment was sincere and honest: “My vulnerability met Dan’s vulnerability. That is where we connected and how it has worked for these years.” In reflecting on his early life, Craig momentarily revisits his past mistakes and again winces at the consequences and the cost of each. “I am vulnerable, too.”

“Dan has taught me to be patient, to ‘enjoy the ride’ that life brings, and to really appreciate and acknowledge the small things in life. I had always run ahead with full steam, which is part of my entrepreneurial spirit. Dan has taught me to slow down, enjoy what is in front of me.”

The common ground of vulnerabilities is their connecting points and has been for the past six years. Craig and Daniel have had a relationship that is defined by ups and downs, trials and tribulations, with many moments of joy and changes in both of their lives.

Craig’s blessing of life has also played a significant and stable supporting role as Dan has become an integral part of Craig’s extended family. “He is part of the family. My mother and sister see Dan as family and always inquires about his well-being.” Dan has accompanied Craig on visits to family and even been part of a vacation excursion or two.

A major practice as a chiropractor is in making “adjustments.” Reflecting on his profession and time with Dan, Craig wants everyone to know that “people are different. People need different things. We are accustomed to being with people who talk like us, look like us, even smell like us. But we are all different and we simply need to love at that level - we are different, but we are all human. My relationship with Dan has taught me to slow down, enjoy the pleasures of life. He has opened me up to making adjustments in my life.”

Maybe that is what a “calling” does for all of us. It is less about affirming our own bias but challenges us to alter or redirect our passions and our loves.

For years Dan walked with a gait and stride that seemed to be unnatural. Craig began looking for clues and, as any good health professional does, he sought answers. The answer was not muscular, skeletal, nor due to any abnormality.

Craig discovered that Daniel has always worn shoes that were too small or too tight given the extra length and width of his feet. Once a pair of right-fitting shoes was secured, the natural walk returned. “Dan was thrilled. He was just as thrilled when he received a new pair of jeans! Dan delights in the small things,” Craig enjoins with is own delight and a smile behind his COVID mask.

Not everyone can do what Craig is doing in relating to someone like Dan. Everyone is not expected to do so. And it should not be expected that everyone like Dan would respond in a similar way. But while it should not be expected - when it works, it works.

For Craig, there are no coincidences. The dots of life are already connected: Vulnerability to vulnerability. Human to human. Calling to response. In such intersections, life is lived, life is measured, and life is experienced to its fullest - making a journey for home.

When common ground is secured and a connection is made, fulfilling stories like this are apt to happen. The line between being serendipitous or providential is rather thin, it seems. Either way, a pair of good-fitting shoes aids in the journey.