When I retired, a friend told me, “Phil, now that you’re retired, everyday is Saturday except for Sunday!” I didn’t understand the full measure of what he was saying at the time, but eventually I saw the benefits and the drawbacks of the statement. When I wake up in the morning, I know I have some degree of control over my schedule… I’m not punching a clock and I’m free to interact with anyone, or no one. If I want to spend the day reading a book, I can. If I want to spend my time outdoors, as long as the weather is to my liking, I can do that. I’m pretty much free to do whatever. It doesn’t really change that much on Sunday, except for a mild schedule at church, lunch with friends and then putzing around the house or garden in the afternoon.

This past Sunday was a little different … a little more on the agenda. A few more things to accomplish at church… so I was going to be there for awhile. I had some time in between multiple services, to have a few cups of coffee and observe all the people activities going on around me. I noticed a young lady, confined to an adult stroller of sorts, surrounded by what appeared to be family members…. a younger brother, grandparents, mom and dad and even an uncle and aunt, or close family friends perhaps. The young girl was obviously impaired. The grandfather was feeding her, pieces torn from a sandwich he was holding. The aunt was lovingly caressing the young girls face and hair, while talking to her, eye to eye… short sentences, nothing complicated. The young girl, who could not control the erratic movement of her head, beamed with the most beautiful smile, as she gazed at her aunt. I was taken with it!

As a Christ follower, there was only one place I could take the emotion that began to fill my heart and overflow from my eyes… so I closed my eyes and prayed. Not your typical prayer… this was different! I began by asking the Lord why He had allowed this beautiful young girl to be in the circumstance she was in. I’m not naïve…. I know we live in a fallen world, and shit happens! Maybe her condition was caused by a birth defect, or perhaps, a tragic accident … no one’s fault! Maybe it was self inflicted … drugs perhaps? Whatever it was, I asked the One who knew the answer, why!! Why was it allowed? All I could see was her beautiful smile and a joy that radiated from her soul… why was she made to endure this?

I successfully fought back the emotion leaking from my eyes, and opened them. I was drawn to comfort her, but she didn’t need comforting! I wanted to fix her condition, but how? I had no power to change her circumstance… I could only pray. So again, I did! I prayed to the only One I knew who could do anything. I asked, that her circumstances be changed, that she be instantly healed…. then I waited. Not that I can bargain with God, but surely, this young girl’s life meant something to so many. Would God not heal her… surely He cares for her more than any human could… He could right this wrong without lifting a finger… He wouldn’t have to utter a word… simply will it! He has done it before… why not now? I could feel the emotion filling my eyes once more, so I closed them and asked the question again…. why?

Now, I’ve never heard an audible word from the Lord, but He has spoken to my mind on occasion. In my mind I heard, “you can’t see what I AM doing here, open your eyes and look!” I physically opened my eyes and said, “Lord, all I can see is the pain that those around her are in!” Then I heard, “Look again!” Wow, perspective can turn on a dime… this thought entered my head, “this child you think needs healing, is touching many who do… I AM using her to do that work.” New eyes saw the brother playfully interacting with the young girl… his joyful attention focused solely on her. I could see the love he had for her. New eyes saw a grandfather’s heart being exercised, rewarded with the most beautiful smiles I have ever seen on any human’s face. Joy was radiating from those around the young girl…. no disappointment, no arguing, no embarrassment, no hectic confrontations…. just peace, as the family prepared to leave. I want to meet that young girl one day, and if I can, encourage her to continue to touch the lives of those the Lord has given to her… and to thank her, for I am one of them!