She was very young and very bright.
She had a secret desire that only she knew about. It is true that others saw her as, well… different. Ever since her kindergarten teacher had told the little ones about the existence of the almighty, she had held a most secret passion to meet him, and that’s when she started looking. She felt sure that it would only be a matter of time. It could be said that her young mind had got hold of the wrong end of the stick, but the spirit of it was there, and it would stay. When she went with her mother to the big shopping centre in town she would often look down from the upper level at the milling crowds. She felt sure this would be a good place to look.
One day, when she was barely old enough to leave the house on her own, she put a bottle of juice and a small packet of biscuits in a paper bag, and before her parents were awake, left the house for the town. She had the bag because her quest could well take the entire day. It was a long walk and she was pleased to find it was already open. She made her way to one of the many bench seats and sat catching her breath. Clutching her bag and watching the shoppers, she felt sure that this would be the day. It would happen today.
First she looked down from the third gallery, then from the other end of the great hall on the second level, then down into the growing mass of shoppers. She made her way through the moving people, looking up into their faces, searching. She returned to the upper levels and started again, using stairs and elevators to travel between floors. Hours passed and it was lunchtime because people were now filling the food hall. She wasn’t at all hungry. The mission that burnt within her was all she needed to keep her going. Her strategy of moving from one vantage point to another was repeated into the afternoon and the numbers in the shopping centre began to dwindle.
She was riding down one of the elevators when she saw him. What she saw was an old man, sitting quietly on his own. Without hesitation, she made her way to where he sat. She stood in front of him with a look of wonder in her eyes. He slowly looked up into her young eyes and smiled with a smile that she had never seen the like of in her short life. His hair was white, his eyes a deep blue, his face was thin and wrinkled; wrinkled and beautiful. She sat down next to him and just stayed there for the longest time with neither speaking.
Eventually, she opened her bag and unscrewed the top from the bottle. She held it out. He drank and turned to her with a smile that flooded through her with a heavenly ecstasy. She took a sip and opened the biscuits. He took one. She took one. They sat eating and drinking without a word until the announcement that the centre was closing rang out through the building. She was unable to fully comprehend the joy that she felt. There was no sadness for either of them as she stood in front of him again. She raised a young hand and moved her fingers gently, as a goodbye. With his penetrating smile he did the same.
As she moved away she thought for the first time that her parents would be worried about her. On her way to the exit she heard voices calling out. Looking back she saw people approaching the old man but then lost sight of it with those following her. She knew without any doubt at all that he would be alright. He would always be alright.
Now, truly exhausted, she slowly walked the long journey home.
Her head was full of wonder.
When she arrived, she was greeted by anxious parents.
“Her father said, “We’ve been so worried.”
She said, “I met God today.”
Her mother cried and hugged her.
Meanwhile, in the old people’s home, the nurse said, “We were very worried about you, wandering off like that.”
He said, “I met God today.” His eyes filled with tears and he added, “She was so young.”
The nurse kindly patted his hand. “I’ll get you a nice cup of tea.”
…and who is to say who met who?
Who is to say?