A Mediterranean Brush Off
October 19, 2012
Apricot bits pair with creamy yellow couscous pearls,
tumbling off Daniel’s spoon and speckling his chin. Mediterranean food rains
down on his wooden chair and the linoleum floor below.
tumbling off Daniel’s spoon and speckling his chin. Mediterranean food rains
down on his wooden chair and the linoleum floor below.
“As soon as you’re done, we’ll play outside,” Morgan urges.
“Mom, I done!” he asserts.
“No, eat a few more bites,” I tell him. He bounces anxious
shoulders, squirming in his chair, afraid his sister will recant the offer or
leave without him. Understanding his worry, I head to his side of the table,
helping him scoop a few more sweet bites into his mouth.
shoulders, squirming in his chair, afraid his sister will recant the offer or
leave without him. Understanding his worry, I head to his side of the table,
helping him scoop a few more sweet bites into his mouth.
“Okay, you can go now!” I swipe couscous
crumbs from his face, off the table, and across my hands. Daniel races
downstairs, calling his sister’s name, a streak of blue-striped pajamas.
crumbs from his face, off the table, and across my hands. Daniel races
downstairs, calling his sister’s name, a streak of blue-striped pajamas.
Last night in the youth group worship time, a young teen
welcomes me excitedly. “Will you sit with me, Mrs. Dougan?” She knows she can
call me Jen, but she chooses Mrs. Dougan. “Sure, Alisha*.”
welcomes me excitedly. “Will you sit with me, Mrs. Dougan?” She knows she can
call me Jen, but she chooses Mrs. Dougan. “Sure, Alisha*.”
We smile and whisper in the darkened room as the music
starts, and then turn to sing. As I sing, her shoulders sway and bump into me
at each measure. I grin quietly and step gently to the right. Singing loudly
beside me, she steps closer again, swaying into my shoulder every two beats. Knowing
this, I smile, wait a few minutes and subtly step right again. Brunette girl sings
and follows me into the aisle. In quiet laughter, I stay there, singing,
smiling, and bumping shoulders.
starts, and then turn to sing. As I sing, her shoulders sway and bump into me
at each measure. I grin quietly and step gently to the right. Singing loudly
beside me, she steps closer again, swaying into my shoulder every two beats. Knowing
this, I smile, wait a few minutes and subtly step right again. Brunette girl sings
and follows me into the aisle. In quiet laughter, I stay there, singing,
smiling, and bumping shoulders.
Brushing shoulders in constant rhythm distracts me until it
turns my attention to Jesus.
turns my attention to Jesus.
In a crowd of bustling people, the long-haired man walked.
Jostled by the usual Middle Eastern market crowds, today’s walk had an added
dimension though. People were here to watch him, to see what he would do, and
to ask for help. Lame men and women with oozing sores or encrusted stumps, frazzled
parents with coughing children, and hollow-eyed people followed him hungrily.
One woman, smelling of human waste and blood, accustomed to recoil and
rejection, didn’t even try to start a conversation with him. Reaching through
the crowd, she snaked her hand to his free-flowing robe.
Jostled by the usual Middle Eastern market crowds, today’s walk had an added
dimension though. People were here to watch him, to see what he would do, and
to ask for help. Lame men and women with oozing sores or encrusted stumps, frazzled
parents with coughing children, and hollow-eyed people followed him hungrily.
One woman, smelling of human waste and blood, accustomed to recoil and
rejection, didn’t even try to start a conversation with him. Reaching through
the crowd, she snaked her hand to his free-flowing robe.
“If I can just brush his robe, then I’ll be healed,” she thought, a victim of a life-long disease. “If I can just brush against him, life will be different.
This will be taken care of. I will be well again,” she knew.
This will be taken care of. I will be well again,” she knew.
Brushing shoulders
or clothing-hems with the Godhead will transform lives, heal wounds, bring
life. And she was right! Her grip started a conversation, ending with a healed
body and a reconciled relationship with God.
or clothing-hems with the Godhead will transform lives, heal wounds, bring
life. And she was right! Her grip started a conversation, ending with a healed
body and a reconciled relationship with God.
Grinning in a darkened worship center, my shoulders being
rocked into every two beats, I suddenly see things differently. I can be Jesus
here to her, my sweet teen.
rocked into every two beats, I suddenly see things differently. I can be Jesus
here to her, my sweet teen.
I can see Jesus in her too. And this brushing of shoulders
in a crowd of people is a good way to re-see Jesus, and to worship.
in a crowd of people is a good way to re-see Jesus, and to worship.
Outside now, Daniel and Morgan fly down the slide in a
tumble of striped blue pajamas, red flannel jackets, and laughter. The couscous
is all brushed off for now, but the Mediterranean fragrances still linger sweetly in my
home, and remind me to brush shoulders with the Mediterranean Walker
more often.
tumble of striped blue pajamas, red flannel jackets, and laughter. The couscous
is all brushed off for now, but the Mediterranean fragrances still linger sweetly in my
home, and remind me to brush shoulders with the Mediterranean Walker
more often.
Linking with Scribing the Journey and Imperfect Prose.
Photo credit, although this was not the recipe we used, nor did ours have olives in it.
Jennifer…isn't it wonderful to know that God chooses us to sway and bump to His music with those who need the touch. If people say, I have never been touch by Jesus then us Christian are not doing the "why" He leaves us here to do.
I just wrote about that on my blog…I needed the reminder and then I come to your blog and there it is again, a touch…a bump…a hug…they all speak, JESUS.
Blessings my sister…
A very beautiful and apt comparison to the hems of Jesus' robe… the brushing of your shoulder to the teen's.
Those are beautiful and timely opportunities to influence others for Jesus.
Thanks, Jen. (I miss you too.)
Absolutely beautiful Jennifer. I'm praising God for your sweet, truthful words… ~ Love from Maine, Amy
How beautiful! What a lovely way to see Jesus! Thank you for showing me a way to see Jesus as i work with the children tonight. "Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:14
Betty,
Your statement "If people have not been touched by Jesus, then we are not doing our job" is thought=provoking. I'm going to have to ponder that more, and stop by your blog too. 🙂 Thanks, Betty, for this input. Sorry for my delay in getting back to you.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Lolita! What fun to talk with you again. 🙂
Thank you for stopping by.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Thank you, Amy. It's nice to touch base with you tonight.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Jayne,
That impacts how I see and work with teens and children too. We can do that together for God's glory together, girl. Thanks for your encouragement.
Jennifer Dougan
jenniferdougan.com
Absolutely beautiful and thought provoking post. Thank you for visiting me. I'm following you now. Blessings from Croatia!!
Beautiful story, Jen… from your son and his anxious scramble off with sister, to your ponderings on Jesus…and the teen in worship. Sounds like she was "loving" on you… 🙂