On day two of our ministry at the Horizon Adult Health Center I experienced a very different day from the previous day. I went in thinking that I would find someone just like Jeff to talk to. Maybe even Jeff and I would talk again. I walked in after everyone from the team had made their way into the building. Looking across the room and noticed that my friend Jeff was already engaged in conversation. I waived at Jeff and then observed a group of elderly ladies that were sitting by themselves in some chairs. As I approached this group of ladies another one of the team members started talking with two of the women. That left a third woman sitting by herself.
I introduced myself and had the pleasure of meeting the lovely Lori. This new friend of mine is a mature woman who has lived in Harlan all her life. She told me about her family. One of her sons lives next door to her and drops her off at Horizon during the day while he goes to work. She told me about her grandchildren or “at least the ones that she could remember”, that’s what she told me. Our conversation was pretty brief. Lori told me that she couldn’t hear very well and that she was pretty tired.
I thought about getting up and finding someone new to talk with, but I had this feeling that I need to stay with Lori. I remained next to Lori and I reached over grabbed her hand. We sat their together holding hands. We didn’t really say anything with words over the next two hours. You would think that the time would drag, but I felt very content and at peace. In that moment, at that time I knew I was right where I should be, doing exactly what I should be doing, and I didn’t need to say anything.
When I got up to leave, Lori reached over and gave me a hug. This was one of those intense kinds of hugs. It was the kind of hug that you give to someone when you really appreciate something they have done for you. I loved the time I got to spend with Lori. It will be a memory that I cherish.
I learned an important lesson from Lori. We didn’t say much but we didn’t need to. It was through touch that I was able to communicate love. It was through time that I was able to communicate care. It was through actions that I communicated the gospel. St. Francis of Assisi once said “preach the gospel all the time and sometimes use words,” Or something close to that.
The first day I was able to use words and God’s Word to communicate the love of Christ to Jeff. Then the next day with out words I was able to communicate God’s love to Lori. Lori really helped me to understand the importance that time and touch plays in all of our lives.
