The Man In The Meat Department

We were both in the meat department of the little market.
I was standing near him, but not too close.
We both were wearing our masks.
I noticed that his mask was homemade.

He was an older man.
He walked in a shuffling way.
I wondered if his mask was made by his wife.
He shopped alone.

Sometimes, I wonder about the life of a person.
Sometimes, I make up scenarios in my mind.
As I decided that his wife made his mask, I noticed his shopping cart.
It was a small cart with only a few items.

Maybe he was widower.
Maybe, in the midst of the pandemic, he was alone.
I watched as he held a package of meat in his hands.
He looked at the package; he looked back at the meat case.

Excuse me, miss, he said to me.
Do you know what this means? He asked pointing to the label on the package.
We were standing closer than six feet apart.
Somehow, I knew it would be okay.

I looked at the label.
I did not recognize the word to which he was pointing.
Oh, I’m so sorry, I said, I never saw that before.
You can ask the butcher, I said pointing to an area behind him.

He looked confused.
He did not see the butcher from where he was standing.
The butcher is right behind you, I said wanting so much to help him.
As he turned, a woman who works in the meat department saw his confusion.

Can I help you? She asked sweetly.
He repeated his question, pointing to the word on the label.
Oh, that is just the name of the meat.
She took another package and showed him what she meant.

It’s like Oscar Meyer or Hatfield, she tried to explain.
He had a tattered piece of paper in his hand.
This is what she wants me to buy, he said pointing.
Is this right? He asked making sure the package of meat was correct.

Yes, this is exactly right, the woman said.
You did good! She added with enthusiasm.
He put the package in his cart.
He shuffled away.

There is a sign that is posted as you enter the store.
It suggests that everyone shop solo during this crisis.
Of course, there are extenuating circumstances.
However, if you are able to shop alone, it is encouraged.

My heart was sad as I watched the man shuffling along.
Was his wife at home, unable to shop?
Was he taking over the food shopping job in order to protect her?
I hoped that their health was not compromised in any way, making them vulnerable.

I walked away remembering that I stood close to the man.
We both were wearing our masks.
I had gloves on as well.
I was not so close that it was unsafe.

Helping the man was forefront in my mind.
Helping the man was important to the woman who worked in the meat department.
He had his tattered list.
His wife, who probably made his mask, was home waiting for him.

He had a question.
He wanted to make sure he was buying the right thing.
For a split second, the pandemic seemed far away.
Someone needed assistance.

I thought about that as I walked down each aisle.
We are supposed to follow rules during this pandemic.
There are governors saying there will be consequences if their rules are not followed.
However, more important than any rule, is one-anothering.

We are wired for community.
We are not wired for social distancing.
We are supposed to comply.
However, another law is at work that actually supersedes the directives that are all around us.

“Do you refuse to speak to me?” Pilate said. “Don’t you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?” Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. (John 19:10,11)

Pilate reminded Jesus of the power he had over his subjects.
Pilate announced that he had the power to set people free or crucify them.
Jesus told Pilate the truth about his power.
Pilate would have no power at all unless God granted it to him.

We are to be good citizens but we are never to do something that is against God’s law.
That is where we draw the line.
There in the meat department, God’s law to love one another took precedence.
The man with the tattered list, who shuffled when he walked, needed help.

Helping him was the most important thing.
Helping him was a little thing but it was the right thing.
His wife was waiting.
He did good…for her.

 

2 responses to “The Man In The Meat Department”

1. This was beautiful and made me cry. We are made for community and loving each other. This pandemic is a trying time for many of us. You captured what many of us are thinking and feeling when we go out alone and walk by all the other alone people. It’s hard to get comfortable with social distancing because it goes against what our hearts call us to do – connect with others.

   Reply

   • Stephanie,
     So many times in God’s Word, Jesus says, “It is I. Do not be afraid.” I don’t know how this pandemic will medically end, but I know we can trust God to lead us to those encounters where a gentle word, a kind act, or an extension of grace is a healing balm for a soul.
     Blessings,
     Gina

     Reply