wonder.

I remember sitting in a class last year during the second or third week of school. This class met only once a week so it was still fairly new to everyone. The professor asked all us of to give a brief testimony of our lives, how we got to where we are today. Most of these classmates I 'knew'. We all had the same major so we'd been in community before. But, this little project completely, honestly changed my view of people. It will forever be engrained in my little brain. I remember going around the room, person to person, each sharing what he/she felt comfortable sharing. Key word: comfortable. But, all walls came tumbling down. People didn't hold back. They didn't let fear keep them from being transparent. One by one the stories kept flowing, the tears started falling. These people that I 'knew' had been completely shaken at some point in their lives. I didn't even feel worthy to share what was on my heart because it didn't even compare to some of the issues they'd dealt with. I hadn't previously given many of them a chance, hadn't taken legitimate time to get to know them, their pasts. Boy did this widen my eyes. I saw each of them in a different light. There was, all of a sudden, an urge to be sensitive. These were people who had been physically and sexually abused my family members. People whose hearts had been broken and betrayed by the ones they loved. People who thought their lives were heading one direction only to be completely turned upside down headed the wrong way.

Today I sit in a coffee shop. I have a pretty good view of everyone loathing in this place. In their own little worlds. Some of them surrounded by company, others by themselves. I picture little speech bubbles around each of their heads, full of thoughts inside of them longing to be poured out. Thoughts that are coming out of the guy who is in conversation with what appears to be a business partner. Thoughts that are different from the words that are coming out. Two girls sitting across from each other who appear to be good friends. Is there ever a sense of deep, inner competition between them stemmed from their own insecurities? Each of these people appearing as if they are doing quite well for themselves. None of them appear to be suffering. None of them appear to be broken or lonely. Keep word: appear. The outside sure provides for misperception.


I pray for these people. For each of their individual lives. I wonder what is going on but God sure doesn't. He knows full well. He knows what they need, what satisfies.

I leave you as I smile for the friendly pat on the shoulder that the sweet guy with down syndrome just placed on a regular customer. God is good!