An Interesting Turn of Events

Talk about an interesting turn of events.

Yesterday, Eyegal, Number One and I made our way down to our favorite beautiful old downtown church for a Lenten liturgy fix. I had not adhered very well to my promises this year, and I was eager to make amends. Lent, after all, is not merely the stuff that you must brush off your clothes.

The rain poured hard as the service started, and the sound of it pelting furiously against the roof lent an air of drama to the lectionary readings. The music soared, drawing us away from our selfish, petty concerns and upward and outward toward Higher and Holier Things. The homily was short and sweet and very encouraging, like a long, slow draft of cool water on a very hot day.

We recited The Creed, confessed our sins, passed the peace and made ready to receive the The Body and Blood of Christ, “The Gifts of God for the People of God.” Everyone went forward, including small children whose parents led them by their hands or even carried them toward the altar. The parents eagerly showed their small ones how to kneel, cross their arms, and ask for their blessing from the priest, who gladly obliged with kind words and a gentle touch to their little heads.

As I made my way toward the front, I saw a man, about 6’10”, ahead of me in line. Even though I didn’t see his face, I knew immediately who he was. And where he was, she had to be nearby.

He was one of my long-time patients, and walking beside him was his wife, the same woman who had apparently not thought too much of my most recent newspaper column and called it–interesting.

As we made our way back to our seats, he spotted me, smiled and stuck out his hand. She saw me too, looked a little confused at first, but finally smiled.

After the service, they both made a beeline toward us. They were genuinely glad to see us and even invited us to coffee in the fellowship hall (regretfully, we had another obligation and had to decline). But we promised we would come back again sometime and take them up on their offer.

I wondered as we stood there talking if she was thinking about that column of mine that she had found so interesting and if she would mention it again. But she never did.

And you know what? It didn’t matter.