A Time and a Place by Sandra Rafuse

A warm welcome to Sandra Rafuse who has joined our InScribe community as a new contributor to our blog.

This was the third Sunday in a row where I was sitting on a chair in church with tears running unchecked down my cheeks. I was wearing a pair of those wrap around sunglasses that cover your prescription eyeglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. I hoped they would prevent people from noticing the flow of tears. I sat there quietly, telling God, Lord, I know that someday soon these people will be my friends, but right now I have no one but you. Help me to get through this time of loneliness; of not knowing anyone.

Several weeks later I was driving home after dropping off our sons at school. It was a blustery fall day. The kind you love being out in; a cool breeze blowing in the air; clouds scuttling across the deep blue sky; green, orange and yellow leaves being blown off the tree branches and twirling down to the ground. Yet I hardly noticed the activity of it all. Instead my heart felt so heavy. I was pondering the thought that I was not so sure I had really wanted to make this move to a small farm with our family and have the boys go to a new school. I was still struggling to make the necessary adjustments but wasn't being very successful in accomplishing them.

As I continued down the road I could see a train coming, slowing down as it approached the railroad crossing. There were three vehicles already stopped ahead of me waiting for the train to go by. Suddenly, the woman in the vehicle ahead of me opened the door and got out of her car. That 's odd, I thought. People don't usually get out of their cars while they're waiting for a train to go by. I took a closer look at her and it seemed to me that she looked like she had gotten dressed in a hurry... just like I had that morning. She had on a pair of pants that were too short, a creased shirt, and a pair of low heeled pumps. I watched her as she gazed around her then took a few steps forward, then a few steps back. She looked as if she didn't know where to stand. Suddenly she turned and quickly approached my car door.

Reluctantly I rolled down my car window, not exactly wanting to talk to anyone just then. She introduced herself. Her name was Noella. After speaking for just a minute or two she invited me for coffee at her house. I did not want to go but the end of the train was in sight and she persisted to ask even though I threw out a couple of excuses not to come. So I said yes. She got back in her vehicle and I followed her across the tracks to her home. I really, really didn't want to do this but I was committed.

Once we were in the house and I was seated in an armchair, Noella excused herself and went to change her clothes. (I had been right. She had gotten dressed in a hurry. A friend had spent the night and both Noella and she had slept in and had to race to get dressed to drive to catch the bus for the friend.) She brought in two cups of coffee, sat down across from me, and we started our conversation. It was small talk at first. We exchanged names, talked about jobs, mentioned families, and briefly discussed the weather. It didn't take long, however, before Noella started to share more personal information about herself. An unhappy childhood. An abusive husband. Several health issues. I shared too. Making a move I wasn't sure I had wanted to make. Worry that my sons wouldn't be happy in their new school. Feeling I'd lost my identity after retiring from teaching.

Suddenly Noella stopped talking. She looked at me for a long minute and then said, "I don't know why I'm telling you these things."

I looked at her in response, then said," I don't know why I'm sharing this either."

It turned out to be an amazing morning; one unlike any other I'd ever had. Such a sharing of intimate information. Such a feeling of closeness with a complete stranger. Such a healing of my heart that I never expected. As I drove home a couple of hours later, I realized the heaviness in my heart was gone. And I realized then that Jesus had been present with Noella and me that whole morning. He had had the train slow down so we would have to stop on the road, one behind the other. Noella felt she should ask me over for coffee. I agreed after trying to make excuses not to come. He brought us together because he knew, for a few hours of time, Noella and I needed each other.

He Knows Us

God knows us thoroughly as we go about our everyday chores, at different locations, and situations no matter our condition. He does not abandon us or forget us; nor is He so busy that He neglects us. Even when we are in trouble or in difficult circumstances we are not hidden from His presence. (from Our Daily Bread: June/July/August 2018)

P.S. Over time, the people in church did become my friends. I saw Noella one more time. The visit wasn't the same. I knew the first visit had served its purpose. She moved away soon after and married a man she had met on the internet. I've never forgotten her.

(Top) Photo credit: Kathy Hillacre

Sandra is a retired teacher. She lives in Rockglen, SK, with her husband and a dog and a very old cat. She feels she has lots of stories to tell from her life experiences and is eager to share them.