The post for this Thursday is a guest post from a friend of mine, Emily Coates, who has been walking with my family and I for a long time. Emily, with her family, lives in Tacoma, WA. Her passion is Jesus and it is shown by the love and the high value she places on everyone that she meets. She posted this on her Facebook page last month and it is worth sharing. I've asked her permission and she has graciously allowed me to do so.
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His scent stayed with me for days. Even after I had showered, applied hair product numerous times, rubbed scented oil into my skin... I would catch a whiff of it, from nowhere.
"Hey, how's it going"
"Girl, this sunshine is so bright and I'm thankful, but I am STARVING."
"You're hungry?"
"Hungry isn't even the word."
"Are you allergic to anything? What can I get you?"
"I'm too poor to be allergic to anything. I'll take anything you can spare."
I went inside, and got as much as I could see and grab quickly. I made a mental note to keep more ready-made foods with protein available in my quick-grab box.
He stood outside looking nervous. Like maybe he was aware of how big a risk he was taking to ask for exactly what he needed. Like maybe he was afraid I would change my mind. Like maybe he had been hurt before.
These days are so confusing, and weird. We have to look up news articles to find out what news articles we can trust. I am overwhelmed all. of. the. time. I believe so strongly in the innate value each of us has. These days, it feels like the first thing you have to do to be on any team is strip the other of their dignity and worth. I don't want to be on a team. My Facebook feed is so incredibly small these days, and I analyze every single like or comment I make, wondering, "who will see that I liked what, and what will they think of me for that?" There's so much fighting and mistrust. I have watched comment threads turn into deep wounds among families and friends. I cry for people I have never met, as I see their words twisted and used against them by angry mobs on all sides. Jesus, come soon.
I walked outside with the offerings I had for this man who had given me the gift of telling me exactly what he needed. He gave me the gift of not being frozen. Of not feeling conflicted about my words or deeds. He needed food. I had some. I handed them over, and he embraced me in a genuine hug. He looked me in the eye, said thank you, and kissed my cheek. His scent lingered for hours, a reminder of this perfect moment. I texted my neighbor and said, "did you catch that?? I just had an interaction that made me feel like everything is going to be okay." That feeling was fleeting, but it was so real.
So for those of you who, like me, feel like you are fumbling through these bizarre and troubling times: keep your head up and your eyes open. Keep your heart guarded, but not closed. Look for opportunities to plant into this world what you wish to see cultivated. Seek justice, and love kindness. It's not naive to hope.
I Love you.