Grocery store checkout lane.
Me: “I’m Ann with no ‘e’. I just feel like I should introduce myself to people wearing nametags. It doesn’t seem fair.”
Karl: (clears throat) “Okay.”
(beep. beep. beep.)
Karl: “I’m Karl. With a K.”
Me: “Yeah, I know. I can actually… see your name. On your name tag.”
Karl: “Oh. Right.”
(beep. beep.)
Me: “Can I confess something to you?”
Karl: (clears throat) “I’d really rather you didn’t.”
Me: “Really?”
Karl: (old man laugh) “ ‘Spose it depends what it is. Is it sex?”
Me: “No. No. No. Sorry I said that three times. That was super awkward. But still no.”
Karl: “Is it killing some young person?”
Me: “Nope. Promise”
(beep.)
Karl: “Okay. I’ll confess to you, too.”
Me: “I’m going to put these cookies I just got from your bakery on a plate and pass them off as homemade.”
Karl: “They’re homemade-“
Me: They’re not homemade by me.”
(beep. beep. beep.)
Karl: “Do you feel better?”
Me: “A little.”
Karl: “I haven’t been to confession since 1978. June.”
Me: “Is that your confession?”
Karl: “Yeah. “
(beep. beep.)
Me: “Your confession is that you haven’t been to confession? I’ve never been to confession.”
Karl: “You’re lying about some stupid cookies.”
Me: “Good point.”
Karl: (clears throat) “June 1978.” (clears throat) “My daughter died. That month. My daughter died that month.”
Me: “Karl. I’m so sorry.”
Karl: “She was your age, about. I walked out of confession and never went back.”
Me: “Never went back?”
Karl: “Never went back to confession. Never went back to church. Never went…”
Me: “Never found your faith again?”
Karl: “Found my faith. Like it was missing? Or lost?”
(beep. beep. beep.)
Karl: “Yes. (whispered) Never found my faith.”
Me: “You can find it now. If you want to.” (a plea: Please, Lord.)
(credit card swipe.)
Me: “You can find it now. You can.”
Karl: “You said that already.” (hands me a pen)
Me: “It’s still true.”
(scribbled signature.)
Karl: “Don’t lie about the cookies.”
Me: “Yeah, you’re right.” (Hand back his pen. His fingers close around mine, and stay there.)
Karl: “You might be right, too.”
Me: “Bye Karl-with-a-K.”
Karl: “Bye Ann-with-no-E.”
What you see and hear depends a good deal on where you are standing. C.S. Lewis.
Tags: Conversations, Following Christ, Grocery Store, Karl, Learning, Listening, Mercy, People
April 7, 2010 at 8:25 am |
I don’t know how you do it. You are brilliant. and awesome. and humble. and cool. Your blog is a link on mine now – because people need to read you. Love, Ken.
April 7, 2010 at 11:43 am |
This is brilliant and beautiful.
I am so fortunate I ever got to know you. I still feel challenged by your faith and your honesty. The world needs more of what you’ve got.
April 11, 2010 at 8:30 pm |
I can’t tell you how much I miss you, and I wish more of your ability to talk to people like that had rubbed off on me. Posts like these are so convicting to me. I wonder how many people I leave searching for their faiths because I’m more concerned about what I have to do next. Once again, my dear Ann, you’re the tool that offers perspective for my life. I love you.
April 12, 2010 at 5:02 pm |
Wow, friends- thank you so much for your encouragement:) I’m really lucky to have people like you in my life. True story.