FOOD FOR THOUGHT
(08/01/2010)
WENT.
WASHED. WORSHIPED.
Cindy Hong
What a scene it was! I got
so used to seeing you under the bridge on Main Street and West Bellfort
. You were blind, begging for food and money. I wondered about the circumstances
that put you there. Did your parents do something so you were born that
way? Was it a childhood accident? You seemed so needy on all accounts,
needing a bath, food, shelter, and sight that I didn't like looking at
you. Looking at you meant looking into my own neediness, but I didn't
have time to bother with that on the way to church to worship God and
all. At the intersection I turned my head away and pretended to think
about God. One Sunday morning as I was waiting to turn, I saw you move
from under the bridge, cross the street as if you knew the cars would
stop for you, and make your way across the HCC parking lot toward the
front door. Then the strangest thing happened. Someone stopped you and
you guys chitchatted a few moments. He then stooped down, mixed some dirt
with his spit, and put that mush on your eyes. “Yew!” summed it up.
You dropped the coins and food in your hands, realizing something better
was before you. He pointed for you to walk in the other direction, and
you went. It was quite a sight and I sat in the car mesmerized. Before
I could even process what happened, you came back. The two of you talked
some more. Not wanting to miss anything, I rolled down the windows to
eavesdrop on your conversation. You asked him who he was, and he said
something about believing. You did so right away. I wanted to shout, “Too
soon!” At least google him and read the reviews. Is he in the 5-star
legit category? Or are the reviews less than stellar? “Use your noodle”
as my dad would say. Not you. You didn't need to google or do research.
You went as he directed, washed your eyes, and saw him for who he really
is. I pride myself on being fairly logical and rational. But you, you
risked it all. I envy your sense of trust, your willingness to depend
100%, to believe at once. Was it because of your first hand experience
of him that left you no other choice but to believe? You were blind. Now
you see. The evidence is painfully obvious. I enjoy 20/20 vision with
corrective lens. But suddenly things didn't seem so clear anymore. I see,
but do I really? You and the man shared a hug like old friends. He left.
You turned, walked into the church, and worshiped.
Here!]
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