Eyes...

I had coffee this morning with my staff, all two of them, at Tazarria, a local café serving perhaps the best cappuchino in California. After I ordered I greeted an acquaintance who is normally in the company of his wife, but was today seated alone. I asked him her whereabouts since it was so unusual to see them apart.

"She is in surgery at this very minute," he explained.

"Nothing serious, I hope," said I, looking for telltale signs of distress on his face.

He looked up from his coffee and replied matter-of-factly, "no just corrective surgery, nothing really."

I muttered something about how surgery, even in the best of circumstances, is still serious and, well, he agreed to that and started to turn back to his paper. But I couldn't let it go. I am strange in that way. When I meet someone, anyone who has a loved one going through a procedure, or ailment, I feel a sense of empathy, compassion, whatever (this is a God thing since I am not naturally compassionate!). So I pressed him.

"You sure you're ok?"

"Yes, just waiting," was his come back.

He thought the matter was over, but I couldn't let it rest. Not that I was badgering him, but I felt impressed, led, something, to pray for him. Now, I know what you are thinking, but it isn't like that at all. I have no interest in saying pious words that only make me feel better about myself. That is nonsense. I am even reticent to write this in my blog, lest I become prideful about something that is ultimately humbling. However, there IS power in gentle acknowledgement of the obvious ... life is often out of our control and we need help! Ironically, though, it is usually in those moments that we are least able, or likely to seek it out for ourselves.

But back to my friend. After we finished saying a quick, quiet, sincere prayer for his wife, the doctors, etc., he whispered "thank you," and we said our fare-thee-wells! Walls went back up, I suppose, safe once again behind our faces. But change was evident as I walked away, not just in him, but in me as well. Humanity reached for eternity as we had quietly stormed heaven for the sake of another.

I have no idea what has happened since our conversation this morning, but I believe, no matter the outcome, that God has been present throughout this day, leading, guiding, helping them through the recovery of her health. No, I don't know this for certain, but man, I sure want it to be true ... don't you?