FINDING TRUST

Last week, I went to a lab for a blood analysis. As I entered the office, there sitting on a chair was a heavy set woman, maybe in her 50’s who was leaning on a cane as she sat. I didn’t say anything, but sign in and sit down. The technician or receptionist was busy with someone in the other room, so I was prepared to wait.

The receptionist came out and said: “Next?” and the woman, who was very shoddily dressed and in some kind of pain looked at me and said: “You go ahead. I have to wait until this afternoon for a ride, anyway.” It was 7:45 AM!

I thanked the lady, did what I had to do and sat down in the waiting room. As the heavy-set woman went into the other room to give blood for a test, The receptionist came out and said: “Oh! We’re done, you can go, we will send the results to the lab and they will forward it to your doctor.” I said thank you but wished to wait for the lady.

After about 5 minutes, the lady returned, limping back into the waiting room and sat down.

“Excuse me”, I said as I walked over to her. “Could you use a ride home?” I figured she would decline, and I would have eased my conscience.

The woman studied me for a while, a perfect stranger, and brightened up. “Why thank you, but I don’t want to put you out.” I said that I was retired, and unless she lived in New Jersey or further, she would not be putting me out. She asked if I was sure. I reassured her and we both left for my car, a small SUV, a Hundai, Sante Fe, and I opened the front door, pulled back the seat and leaned it back a little. After a struggle for her to get in, I asked her where she lived and she directed me to her home, maybe less than a 2-minute drive.

The woman had much difficulty in walking, and was in obvious pain. She explained to me she was a widow, living on a small widow’s pension, and probably should have called a cab. She said that with the cost of everything, she saved the cab fare and was willing to wait until about 4:30, when her daughter would return from work.

Her home was a small ranch, maybe two bedrooms, in a poor section of Ronkonkoma, and in need of repair. I helped her out and again she thanked me, as I got back into my car. As I drove off, I wondered why she trusted me. I wear a beard, not a very fancy car, and she seemed so vulnerable. I know I felt saddened that she had to sacrifice her time to save a buck, and I guess that bothered me, too.

It’s funny! You come from nothing, and get a little lucky. You see someone with nothing, and you re-live those hungry days! I knew that at that moment, I felt like my dad, it was something he would do. I could almost feel his presence in that car.

Please remember my Polish brother-in-law, John, a guy that needs our prayers, and thinks that God is Polish, and all those that need our hopes and prayers.