True Love

(Must be read as a dramatic narration to receive it’s full value.)

We stumbled in the door of the crowded restaurant.  A growing shared hunger and the need to stretch our legs had led our family of four to this place in hopes of a respite from the unending Texas highway.  It was the only place in the area, the golden arches drawing us in to it’s fat-filled high-carb trap like a spider into it’s web.  As we stepped inside and took our place in line, I imagined this lonely, yet familiar, place must draw thousands of other travelers from the busy road.  From the looks of the building, it had stood it’s ground a long while.

Our extended wait in line allowed us each a bathroom visit, leaving behind rotating sentinels to defend our claimed position.  We even had time for a supervised return to the car for jackets to ward off the over-eager air conditioning, hoping to restore blood-flow to our limbs before we lost all sensation.  Finally, the wait was over; our moment arrives.

Footsteps

Braving the halls of our Children’s Ministry wing on any given Sunday is like fighting a hurricane armed with an umbrella. Everyone hurries to nab their children and race to the car before their favorite restaurant fills up with other church-going patrons.

Last Sunday, I drew the short straw on Operation Child Retrieval and set off at a brisk walk. Everything was smooth sailing until a family of visitors (judging by their carefree saunter) slowed my pace to nearly a standstill. Reminding myself that I might be a part of their first impression of this good establishment, I resisted the urge to push past them in the now swelling crowd.

Since my progress was delayed, I absentmindedly reflected on the family in question. They seemed like the common variety: a mom of average proportions, a long and lanky dad towering beside, and a young dark-haired boy trailing behind. As I watched, I soon noticed the boys gait seemed erratic, sometime stretching this way or that to take the next step. He did not appear to be disabled or engaged in careless play. In fact, his steps were marked by intense concentration.