One of the shaggy haired waiters arrived immediately and asked how he could serve them. They ordered a dark-roasted Columbian coffee and bagels. Then, like teenagers returning after a summer at the beach, they launched into sharing stories and recalling fond memories from their seminary experience. When the coffee and bagels arrived, Carla carefully added the cream cheese as Al watched her. He noticed that she did not have a ring on her finger but decided that was not a proper subject for inquiry–yet.
Carla grew quiet as she took a bite of her bagel and visibly began to relax. “What a unique hide-away,” she said as she looked around. “I’m glad you chose it. Sitting here, you could almost forget the world outside existed.”
Al’s skills of ministry included a sixth sense of reading unexpressed emotions. He looked more closely and recognized some lines of pain around her eyes and a slight tremor in her hand as she lifted her cup of coffee. “Carla, it’s been a long time since we’ve talked, but I remember that you were never very good at being politely cheerful when you were feeling deeply about something. Enough of the fun catching up; what’s going on for you?”
She looked up, eyes glistening, but chose to take another bite of bagel and chew it slowly before she spoke. “Madre de Dios, you are good. I’ll bet you are a fantastic pastor, Al. I think I need a pastor now. Can you be my pastor for the next couple of hours and help me pull myself together?”
“The pastor side of me knows,” said Al, “that I should now say in a dispassionate and calming voice, ‘Tell me more about what is bothering you.’ The friend side is almost afraid to hear about the pain that I sense in you.”
“I know it’s selfish of me to lay this on you after we haven’t been in contact for so many years, Al, but I need both sides of you this morning.” She reached out and shoved his plate with the bagel on it toward him. “You may want to get some nourishment first.”
“Actually,” Al said, “I’m trying to lose weight. Go ahead and tell me what’s going on.”
SMcCutchan