Two weeks ago, the email arrived. Carla was invited to address a meeting of his presbytery about her Hispanic ministry. She wondered if they could get together for coffee, catch up on old times, and discuss the best approach for her presentation to this regional body of Presbyterian churches. He gave her directions to Krankies Coffee House and suggested that they meet at 10 a.m.
He arrived early to make sure they had a table. Early in his ministry, he learned that being honest about how he was feeling gave him greater control of his actions and response. Now, as he waited, he turned to that habit. He chided himself a little for feeling both anxious and excited. Al’s only serious adult relationship with a woman had been a disaster. It ended with a fair amount of pain. It confirmed for Al that he wasn’t very skilled in intimate relationships.
He recalled an old cartoon where Charlie Brown said plaintively, “I love humanity; it’s people I can’t stand.” The reverse was normally true for Al. Sometimes he looked on humanity with feelings of despair but he loved the people who made up his congregations. So, Al thought, I’d have to amend that statement slightly. I love people but an intimate relationship with a single woman scares the hell out of me. Now he was meeting with the beautiful Carla Espinosa, who he had never dared to think of as more than a fun friendship. Lord, he thought, if she can just come in with about fifty more pounds, a macho husband with tattoos, and perhaps three bratty children, I think I will be able to comport myself quite well.
Then he saw her marching through the door as if she owned the place. Her lustrous hair flowed over her shoulders, her dark eyes flashed, and the blue jeans and light blue work shirt neither displayed nor hid an unwanted ounce. He wished he’d started working out several months ago and given in to the temptation of getting contact lenses. He felt a stupid grin come over his face as he rose to indicate where he was sitting.
Her bright teeth sparkled in a warm smile as she quickened her pace, opened her arms, and enveloped him in a warm embrace. “Que bueno,” she said. “It is so good to see you after all these years. You look wonderful.”
It pleased him to see a number of people in the room take notice of this greeting. He might not know what to do next, but at least it was a great beginning.
SMcCutchan