A Beautiful Woman

About a week ago I met an absolutely BEAUTIFUL person.  I was sitting with my group at Panera when this sweet older woman walked into our table.  We were mid-conversation and stopped as she asked very sweetly something along the lines of “Can you tell me to get to the front counter?”  As I looked down I saw that she was holding a white cane (for visually impaired people).  It jogged my memory of a little earlier that morning when the Panera worker had been walking her to the table.

We were in the middle of a really good conversation- we stopped of course and gave her directions and she was so grateful and went on her way.  As we continued I couldn’t help but watch her, just to make sure she made it.  My directions were not the best and as she got to the end of an aisle she was headed for another table.  Feeling responsible, I excused myself and ran over to catch up to her, told her she was not quite there yet, and offered my arm.  As we got to the front she said that Allison would help her, so I asked for Allison but the manager came out and greeted her by name saying she would help my friend. 

As I walked back to my table I couldn’t help but feel an amazing sense of joy from this woman.  She couldn’t see, but instead of being bitter and avoiding the world, she was out smiling and talking and living.  She was very aware of the fact that she needed help and couldn’t do everything on her own but was humble and open to asking and receiving help from whomever.  The workers knew her name and she knew theirs.

What an inspiring woman.  The approximate 3 minutes I had the blessing to spend with her lit up my day.  It really hit me how different I am and would be in her situation… The fact that I can see sometimes isolates and removes me from the people around me.  When I don’t know what to do or where to go I try and figure it out on my own, asking others only as a last resort.  I don’t want to appear “helpless”-- I focus more on how they might perceive me instead of accepting I cannot do it on my own.  Her lack of physical vision gives such a clearer spiritual vision- we cannot do it on our own.  I deny the simple truth that sometimes we all need help and can ask someone else.  God gives us friends and community for this reason- so we can lean on one another, but in order to do that you need to be willing to admit that you need it.  It was such a blessing to help this woman and I am sure there are so many people I have denied the blessing of helping me when I am in need because I am too proud to ask. 

This woman was absolutely beautiful because she was secure in who she was and in the fact that she can’t make it without help.  She has trust and humility to be able to get help from those around her, and instead of letting it bring her down she was such a joyful lady.  Beautiful and inspiring.