"That's weird" I thought to myself, while rushing to make a medical appointment on time. "That lady is just standing there holding an empty dog leash but not looking for the dog and she's right in front of a clinic - sure is a weird place to let your dog use the bathroom". But I dismissed the thought and quickly drove past on my merry way.
Appointment over, and exiting the complex (a bit slower this time) I saw the same woman still standing by the road (how many times does a dog need to use the bathroom in 2 hours?) holding what I then recognized was not a dog leash but, instead, were prayer beads. I was stricken by the realization of what she was doing: she was earnestly praying while standing at the edge of the parking lot in front of a clinic. One woman standing there - praying.
That realization, coupled with the "planned" nature of the clinic she was praying in front of, sent an immediate shock-wave through my being. She - brave and passionate - chose to stand alone to make a difference.
Driving past, I felt the nudging of an Unseen Hand upon my back encouraging me to turn around - and turn around I did. Driving past, this time from the opposite direction, I saw four giggling young girls and two young boys bouncing along as they prepared to enter the clinic... and while, they in their casual way went about their business, the brokenness in the face and demeanor of this lone woman, again, caused such a stir within me that I knew I had to say or do something.
Turning around, yet again, I drove up, pulling along side the curb, rolling down the passenger window, I heard myself calling out to her: "excuse me, ma'am!". Deep in prayer, it took a couple of times before she heard me... but I knew I had to briefly interrupt.
"Yes?" she inquired. "You need to know your passion and your committment are most beautiful things." I heard myself say. Her eyes lit up as if she had just heard from the Father, and standing straight, tall, and lovely she replied - in a most elegant, refined, gentle yet fervent tone : "Oh THANK YOU! Oh THANK YOU! God bless you!" as a grateful, re-energized smile graced her lovely face, she then bowed her head and immediately returned to her mission.
One solitary woman - not a crazed lunatic, nor a "thumping", rude, arrogant, opinionated scene-maker - this woman was driven by love - absolutely by love. She risked ridicule and rejection just to pray for people who were seeking the life and death choices offered to them - people who would probably never know her name who might have also thought, if they even glanced her way, that she was standing there with an empty dog leash... Oh, but this Solitary woman -- passionately driven - loved them and the decisions they were facing. She loved them enough to earnestly, intently speak with the Father about them.
The "bigness" of her mission deeply struck me: while these young teens probably believed their situations or intentions were hidden - were not known (probably by their parents or any other loving adult) this woman was crying out to Heaven in their behalf - praying for someone elses' daughters and sons. She loved as He loves...
I don't know what all changed yesterday - how many prayers were answered. I don't know who may have gone into that clinic with one idea but exited with another idea. But I do know this: I was changed yesterday - forever changed by the passion, the risk, the love and courage of One Solitary Woman.
"Lord, my mission is not hers. My mission is Yours - be what You desire me to be in order to go where, and do what You send me to do... so send - me."
Copyright 2011 J. Allen G.
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