Snuggling cousins!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

We were at the Post Office on Monday while running errands. Lauren and I remained in the car while Whitney and Deanna went inside. While we waited, we watched people. They sped in and out of the building.

One man in particular captured our attention... and our hearts.

He was tall and bearded. His hair was graying to white. He wore a cap. His look could have certified him a retired sea captain, but no ocean was near. He walked with an unsteady gait, and used a cane. The cane provided us no confidence that he would remain upright.

People rushed back and forth by him. The current from each ones race threatened to topple him from his journey. He would slow then stop as the wake of each person engulfed him. Seemingly, he tried to figure why they were in need of getting there so quickly. Annoyance clouded his face, then cleared.

A couple of times he had to stop to steady himself. It seemed he would never near the door. How could such a short trip, take such a long time? How could this episode capture my attention so fully?

Lauren jumped out of the car, trying to time her arrival with his need to enter. As she neared the double doors, he diverted his trip.

He stopped to the right of the entrance and began to fumble for change. He wanted to buy a newspaper from the bank of metal containers. His coin fell to the ground!

I struggled to get Lauren's attention. I was paralyzed by the unfolding pictures before me. By now, she was caught up in the dance of door holding for patrons rushing in and out. Her purpose in being there had become suddenly lost. It equalled the man's body language who seemed to be looking around for assistance. How was he going to bend all the way to the ground to get his coin? His body looked as though it would break if he tried.

I put my hand on the horn, but feared it would confuse the situation, and so released it. Lauren broke free from the 'in and out' push of people. Embarrassed, she headed back to the car, and lost sight of the man and his plight (only the two of us realized her purpose, but the awkwardness of 'no reason to be at the door without a man to hold it for' seemed suddenly disconcerting).

He bent with great issue to retrieve his coin.

Success!

He straightened back up, and headed for the door. The constant push of people found someone willing to hold it for him. He had to stop and wait on others who were in a much bigger hurry as he tried to enter.

I was in such a hurry this day.

I could not help but realize how much need there is around me that I fail to notice as I rush through my schedule of daily events...planned and unplanned.

This man had a story. His experiences had no doubt contributed to wisdom for life. No one had time. No one had interest. No one even noticed, though his presence was imposing... even foreboding... all were in too much of a rush to realize.

I wondered what I would hear if I sat down for coffee with him? What could he tell me about life? What journey had brought this displaced sea captain to the windy plains? Had his loss of a boat caused him to lose his way? Sea legs can be unsteady on dry ground. Were he on a boat, his mates would leap to action. Here, walking, struggling to remain upright, his very presence seemed out of context.

Luffing sails and drifting ships are cast about on seas of discontent.

A rudder sunk deep into the Word of God, allows steering the mightiest of vessels against the currents of worldly wisdom.

Hunger and thirst deeply.

Drop your anchor for a few moments with Him! Then with His direction, set sail into a new year, in Christ! His way is steady!

dad