Seemingly Alone

I watched her struggle with her tiny shopping cart.
Her few items were inside.
Her cane was hung over the side close by in case she needed it.
She had the cart to hold onto, so she was fine.

But she wasn’t fine.
Her left side was showing signs of a past stroke.
She was maneuvering the shopping cart with her one good hand.
What she accomplished, amazed me.

Her steps were labored but determined.
She was alone in the store.
There was a bench beyond the cash registers.
She struggled over to it, in front of the automatic doors that opened as she passed.

She was trying to get to the bench with her cart.
I went over to help her.
She reluctantly accepted my help.
She sat down, obviously tired from shopping and all that meant for her.

She pulled the tiny cart close to her and grabbed her cane, putting it on her lap.
She hugged her purse tightly to her good side.
Are you waiting for someone?
Can I help you with your groceries?

I’m waiting for Rover, she said looking down and never meeting my gaze.
Oh, I’m glad you have a way home.
My words sounded very empty and not very comforting.
I left the store uneasy.

Rover is a countywide transportation system.
Everyone is welcome to ride Rover, though older residents use it most often.
A ride is scheduled two days in advance.
The person is picked up at the designated time and returned home as planned.

As soon as I got outside, my daughter who is at college, called me.
I stood under the overhang, away from people coming and going and talked to her.
It was a catch-up phone call and I welcomed it.
I saw the same people enter and leave the store since thirty minutes had passed.

As we were talking, the woman was slowly making her way out of the store.
Since there is a gradual dip in the sidewalk, she was ready to lose her shopping cart.
I rushed over and grabbed it and parked it securely to the side.
Is your ride here? noticing there was no Rover van in sight.

It’s cold out here, she said trying to pull her coat around her.
Just then, it began to snow, light flurries teasing us with the approaching winter.
Two others came up to help her but she insisted she was fine.
I turned around and continued to talk to my daughter, and then she was gone.

Her cart was still where I parked it, but she was nowhere to be found.
I ended my call and walked back inside the store.
There on the bench was the woman just as before.
Would you like me to get your shopping cart for you?

No! It’s outside waiting for my ride.
I wanted to treat the woman with the dignity and respect she deserved.
I also did not want anyone to take the groceries that she just bought.
I walked over to a customer service representative.

Do you see that woman on the bench?
The girl had no idea where I was going with this conversation and seemed annoyed.
She has been waiting for her ride for the past half hour.
Her groceries are outside and I don’t want anyone to take them.

I just want someone to know she is there.

The young girl softened and we both walked over to the woman.
I gently insisted that I bring her groceries back in to her.
She accepted and I realized that the hassle of pulling the cart back in was too much for her.
The girl parked it right next to the bench.

Is there someone I can call for you?
No, my ride is coming at 3:15.
It was a little before 3:00.
I’m early.

It was not the transportation system; the woman was early.
The woman was alone.
The woman was relying on strangers to help her.
The woman was cautious about the help she did accept.

I just want someone to know she is there.
That thought kept tumbling as I left and as I drove home.
I don’t know anything about this woman.
However, for a moment in time, strangers cared for her.

I just want someone to know she is there.

Someone does know that she is there.
Someone knows everything about her.
Someone died on the cross for her, whether she knows that or not.
I pray she knows that.

I prayed for her ride to come.
I prayed for her to get home safely.
I prayed for her to find joy.
I prayed for her.

Someone knows she is there.

O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; You are familiar with all my ways…Where can I go from Your Spirit? Where can I flee from Your presence? If I go up to the heavens, You are there; if I make my bed in the depths, You are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there Your hand will guide me, You right hand will hold me fast. (Psalm 139:1-3,7-10)

Someone knows she is there.