WALKING MY WAYS

WALKING MY WAYS.  Every Thursday I help serve a drive by dinner at the Epiphany Lutheran & Episcopal Church, in Marina.  We are “Abraham’s Tent,” and we are an extension of JCM United, “Jews, Christians, and Muslims United.”  Our purpose is to strengthen the understanding and ties between these three, giant, religious communities.

 Everyone who helps is a volunteer, and we serve more than 200 take out dinners a night.  Some of the recipients have fancy vehicles.  Some sleep in their cars.  Others come on a regular basis, so they won’t have to cook dinner in the evening.  Some are walk ups.  A few come on their bicycles.  Last week I engaged in a stimulating conversation with a woman, who had ridden up on her bicycle.  Once before, she had come and eaten heartily.  This time she ate two dinners, and took two home for the next day.

But while eating her meals, and sitting on one of our benches, she looked absolutely content and serene.  And so I told her how unusually happy she looked.  Yes, she said, she felt extremely content and was at peace with the world.  Not always, she added.  But in this moment, with beautiful weather and a full stomach she felt on top of the world.  On talking a little bit more, she indicated that she slept in a tent, within a community.  Most of her neighbors were veterans and looked out for her.  So she felt safe.  Furthermore, much of her attitude depended on the weather.  When it rained, she said, (and she loved the rain, not that it rained that often,) she would stand outside and take a shower.  Those showers, she said, were the best.

In any event, I couldn’t help but marvel at her total contentment and joy.  She definitely seemed to be on top of the world.  And her peace and contentment made me feel absolutely wonderful.  As well.  Finis.