During the Lenten season, Rory and I host a small faith sharing group on Monday evenings. This group is composed of members of our church community. While one or two participants may come, or go, we have a core group that are very comfortable with each other. The emphasis is on sharing with each other, not arguing the finer points of our Faith, and I personally learn so much from group members. Many (probably most) of them are cradle Catholics and being an adult convert, I am always curious about growing up Catholic.
This year we are reading a book called Resisting Happiness by Matthew Kelly, a down to earth Australian who calls it like he sees it. My kind of study guide! Last night we were discussing the chapter in which he talks about “Aha!” moments. An Aha moment happens when suddenly the lip service we have been paying to our Christianity makes sense, when He wakes us up and lets us see the truth. Matthew likes to call these Pentecostal moments; I call mine my Epiphany moment. Here it is.
My Aha Moment
Probably 12-13 years ago, at Hope House (you knew it would be around Hope House, didn’t you?), I was working the front desk. The front desk is the center of the action—responsible for welcoming those coming in the doors and for helping those going out with their bags, etc. I call it air traffic control, and it can be busy.
The door opened and a woman walked in carrying a little girl maybe just shy of 2. So adorable, with curly blonde hair and big blue eyes. When I asked the woman how we could help her, she said they needed some hygiene supplies and clothing. Noticing the little girl’s bare feet (it was February!), I said, looks like she could use some shoes. Her mom smiled sadly and said she had outgrown her last pair. She pointed out that there were sores on her daughter’s heels from too small shoes.
I sent the mom in to have her intake interview, lifted the little girl up onto the front desk and I set to work. I called out to a volunteer to please bring me a warm, wet cloth and a band aid. Another volunteer wandered over and I asked her to see if we had any shoes the right size for this little angel. Still another volunteer brought me some warm, soft socks.
As I bathed her feet and applied bandages, she watched me somberly, but did not cry or try to get down. The warm, soft socks went on like gloves. The finishing touch was the adorable pair of rainbow colored sneakers the volunteer found for her. As I tied the final lace, I looked up at her and she was gazing intently at her feet. Slowly, she raised her gaze to my face and the most brilliant smile of joy came out! It was truly as if Heaven had opened and the light was shining down.
By this time, we were all in tears at her preciousness and beauty; and I was having an Epiphany.
God let me know that I had truly just ministered to one of His special angels. In doing so I had ministered to Christ Himself, in the person of this little girl. Since that day, I have tried always to see the Christ in everyone who comes through that door in need. We are all children of God, brothers and sisters in Christ and each deserves as much as the next. I’m not saying I perfectly reflect this always. Lord knows, I am far from perfect. However, I do believe it and I strive every single day to live it as closely as I can.
What was your Aha moment? Join the discussion below….
Through tears and a big smile, I’m first going to thank you Cheri for sharing that inspiring story. It called to mind an encounter I had in an eclectic downtown store, a few years ago. The shop is quite small so customers bump into each other as they mill around, attempting to see all the pretty things on shelves, on the walls, and the tiered table in the middle. Anyway, it was a tight fit. After selecting a few things, I moved around the store and got into position near the counter. At this point, either the heat from the customers in the small shop was reaching the sweating point or I was wearing too heavy of a coat, regardless, I wanted to make my purchase and get out of there quickly. Just then, an older man stepped in and brought a fresh gust of cold air, causing me to turn and look. He had long white hair with a long scraggly beard to match, was wearing fairly new track clothes, yet it was obvious he had been on the street awhile. His hands were weathered and dirty. As I made eye contact, he approached me and began talking about the troubles he had had with the city and how he was kicked out of his apartment, etc. At first I thought “how am I going to get out of this conversation before I faint from heat and not hurt his feelings?”; but as I listened to his story, this feeling of what must have been grace flowed through me. No longer did I care that I was hot, that the items I was holding were causing red marks in my hands from their weight. Nor did I care that all the other patrons were determinedly avoiding the man, and now me, including the store clerks. After awhile, he stopped his monologue of problems and looked into my eyes as if he had just seen me for the first time. He smiled, reached out and took my hand, which I unhesitatingly gave him. Holding it he said “you have a bright light, it isn’t common, don’t ever lose that.” And still smiling, he gently let go of my hand, turned, and left the store. I don’t know if I did anything for that lonely, struggling man by simply listening to him that day, but he did much for me. I learned what it felt like to be filled with grace while in the presence of a stranger…..the Jesus in our midst.
Allene, thank you for taking the time to share with me! If we could all just try harder to “see” our Lord in others, how much better could our world be?!