The Woman

I had just come out of the little market.
It is my favorite place to buy organic fruits and vegetables.
I love the slogan that is on all of their handled satchels.
Real Food. Local Roots.

I purchased the few things I needed.
I debated whether I should stop and get some of their home made organic soup.
I decided against it on this particular day.
I was ready to go home and have my afternoon cup of tea.

I got into the car and checked my phone before I turned on the ignition.
I drank some of the water I always have with me.
And then I saw her.
I was not sure from which direction she came.

I was in a parking lot where other businesses, a gym, and even a small restaurant are located.
It gets quite busy in this parking lot during the day.
People come and go in their workout clothes.
People meet friends for lunch.

There is also an Urgent Care in this little shopping center.
I assumed that might be the place this woman was headed.
She was terribly bent over.
Every step seemed to be a struggle for her.

She was shuffling more than she was walking.
She was looking at the ground and never looked up.
She had what looked like ski poles attached to each hand.
She put the poles down and then took a step.

This continued, quite slowly, across the parking lot.
She approached the area where cars drive through.
She never looked up.
She seemed oblivious to the cars that had to stop and wait for her.

Nothing seemed to hurry her.
Nothing could.
A car came quite fast from the road and had to stop and wait for her.
I noticed that the cars only waited so long.

The cars actually drove around her.
I gasped once or twice when it seemed a bit too close for comfort.
I lost sight of her when a waiting car blocked my view.
I could stand it no longer.

I got out of the car, leaving my purse and my phone, and took only my keys.
I quickly walked towards her.
She still had not reached the curb.
I did not want to startle her so I began to talk to her before I approached her.

Let me help you, I said taking her elbow.
We walked slowly together.
Cars would have to go around both of us.
Being so tall, at least they would see me first and slow down.

Thank you so much, she said with sincerity.
You are really smart to have those to hold on to, I said pointing to the poles.
I’m just going there, she said motioning towards the Urgent Care door.
OK, I will make sure you get inside, I said, never letting go of her elbow.

This was so nice of you, she said.
I hope you have a very nice day, she added.
You, as well, I said as I opened the door.
There was one man in the waiting room and a receptionist behind the desk.

No one looked up.
No one acknowledged this woman who looked towards the ground.
Excuse me, I said to the receptionist who looked up in my direction.
I want to make sure that this woman is seen, I said.

There were no goodbyes.
There were no questions about whether I was with her or not.
There was just the thump of the poles and the shuffling of her feet.
I closed the door quietly behind me and left.

I wondered if the woman had back pain that forced her to walk so bent over.
I wondered if she came up with the idea of using the poles for support.
I wondered if she had to wait long before she was called back to an examination room.
I wondered if she had to drive herself home.

If anyone has material possessions and sees a brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth. (1 John 3:17)

I thought of the words I said to the receptionist.
I want to make sure that this woman is seen.
I knew what I meant when I said those words.
I wanted her to be seen by a doctor who could help her.

However, as I pondered the words that came out of my mouth, they meant so much more.
I want to make sure that this woman is seen.
I want to make sure that this woman is not dismissed.
I want to make sure that this woman is waited for rather than someone to drive around.

I know nothing about this woman.
I do not need to know anything about her.
At that moment, the woman needed a hand.
What a privilege it was to be that hand on her elbow for even a few minutes.

I thought of the woman and replayed the entire scenario in my mind.
I had forgotten one thing.
The woman did look up from the ground.
The woman did look up only once.

In that instant, the woman looked into my eyes.
She looked right into my eyes.
Words cannot describe what I saw there.
What I saw was true, and it was pure, and it was sincere.

I hope the woman remembers my eyes as well.
I hope the woman remembers my smile because I remember hers.
I hope the woman was attended to when it was her turn to see the doctor.
I hope the woman was truly seen.