blessing

“Good morning. Again.”

The pink lady smiled sympathetically as I walked past her station in the hospital’s lobby to the padded seat in the waiting area. I’ve been there for several early morning sojourns in the last couple of weeks.

There are more to come.

I’ve mentioned that I don’t do early mornings before, haven’t I? These haven’t been voluntary, but necessary. I don’t volunteer for early mornings.

Oh, wait. I did, didn’t I? Volunteer.

And, I’ll do it again.

Tomorrow is another one. An early morning. That’s why this is going to be short.

But, I thought you needed to know—you who do this all the time. I’m talking to you who volunteer for the early mornings—and the long afternoons—and the interminably long nights.

It matters; what you do matters. You matter.

A friend sent a note this morning, as I sat in one of those waiting rooms. She wanted me to know that I was a blessing to the lady for whom I was biding my time.

I mentioned to her that I was simply doing what was in front of me to do. Then I wondered if that’s what being faithful is about.

I’m still mulling that one over. I may think about it in the waiting room of another facility tomorrow morning.

But, my friend who sent the note about being a blessing was the one who actually blessed me by writing the words.

So, I’m just passing it on.

You know who you are. In your homes—the hospitals—the nursing homes—the prisons—the hospices.

You are a blessing.

You are.

I just thought you should know.

“Listen to my voice in the morning, Lord.
Each morning I bring my requests to you and wait expectantly.”
(Psalm 5:3, NLT)

“Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
(1 Corinthians 4:2, NIV)

“I must be Dorothy.”

I’ll admit it. We had been ignoring the beautiful little girl. In the room full of people, every one of us was looking at the window and offering an opinion about the shades being installed. No one was focused on her in any way.

The sweet little girl sat on the cedar chest and swung her feet—thunk, thunk, thunk—against the sides, waiting for at least one of us to tear our eyes away from the window and speak to her.

It must have been a sore trial for the little tyke. When one is used to being the center of attention, to be among a crowd of folks and not even be a part of the conversation would be most difficult. Especially if you’re an almost four-year-old kid.

Then again, I don’t know.

This sixty-year-old man understands how she feels. Anyone who’s spent time waiting while life goes on apace for others all around knows how the little girl feels.

Lonely isn’t only being by one’s self. It’s not.

Lonely isn't only being by one's self. It's not. Share on X

Isolation isn’t primarily about walls and distance.

We might even need to remind ourselves once in a while of who we are. And, who we were.

I must be Dorothy.

Into the dark room of loneliness, sometimes a shaft of light—a blazing ray of sunshine— sneaks its way through the blinds we have lowered ourselves and illuminates the entire room.

How’s this for light?

He already knows my name! (Isaiah 43:1)

I’ll never have to stand and remind Him, I must be Paul. He knows.

He knows.

We don’t need to jump up and down, waving to make sure He is aware of our presence. We have His undivided attention.

But, perhaps it’s time I—we— who have been shown such love and lavish attention should begin to show love and lavish attention to those around us.

Many are lonely in the crowd. Many sit, kicking their feet, waiting for someone—anyone—to notice them sitting there.

I’ve been in that crowd. Alone. Lost. I will attest to the loneliness and pain. But, I also remember the approach of a member of the crowd who says, You must be Paul, and then that feeling of relief and belonging spreading to every part of my being.

It is a wondrous gift to be recognized.

It is a wondrous gift to be recognized. Share on X

Who better to notice those who are alone than we who have been noticed when we were alone? We have been recognized in a crowd. Why would we not offer that same gift to others who desperately need it?

We are blessed so that we will bless. It is a reasonable expectation.

I won’t deny it. We laughed as we heard the words from the little girl’s mouth today. And then, we paid attention to her.

But the truth is, most folks won’t ever say a word. They’ll come into our lives and they’ll disappear just as quickly. And, quietly. If we let them.

Let’s not let them.

You must be . I was hoping you’d be here.

Only the lonely know the way I feel tonight.
(Roy Orbison ~ American singer/songwriter ~ 1936-1988)

All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is our merciful Father and the source of all comfort. He comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others. When they are troubled, we will be able to give them the same comfort God has given us.
(2 Corinthians 1:3-4 ~ NLT ~ Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.)

He's Taken Leave

Random wanderings with Paul Phillips

In The Morning

I Recognize You