By Lois Hewitt

Yesterday I went to church. I do not usually go for a variety of (lame) reasons. But I went yesterday. 

I sat in the second row which I don’t usually do for a variety of (lame) reasons. 

In front of me sat a young man.  I had not seen him there before.  Everyone stopped by to introduce themselves, so I was pretty sure he was new to visiting church.

I thought it odd that this young man (a teen) was by himself.

He turned to talk to me, introduced himself and I to him.  He then let me know that his name starts with a “c” and mine with a “l”.  I then realized the conversation was going to be different.

He told me and a few others the letters in the alphabet and how many letters there were. When he started to talk about numbers a few others had to leave. 

It was just he and I and he asked me my favorite shape. I said a square. He thought I should like a triangle better.  Ok, I agreed.

Then we talked about a rainbow made of shapes and colors. I told him, sincerely, that his idea about such a rainbow was beautiful. 

He asked me if I had any children and I said that I didn’t.  He asked if I was going to have any children (at 62, I would hope not) and I said no.  He told me if I did, they would like watching Sesame Street because the use letters and numbers.

Then the music started to play and the service began. I was a little nervous because I was going to be reading the Litany for Pentecost. I was not feeling great and was wishing I was laying in bed at that moment.

The first hymn was sung. The gentleman next to me taped on the pew in front of him and the young man became a little aggregated. He told the man next to me that he could not do that.

I whispered that it was ok and that he was allowed to tap the pew.

Then my time came to speak and I went to the Chancel area too soon and my voice creaked through the microphone (I had never heard my voice amplified-yikes).  It went ok but not great.

When the reading was complete, I started back to my seat and the young man told me that the reading was good.  I thanked him and sat down.

I started to feel really bad but I had wanted to show up for myself and to show God He was more important than my feelings.

As the service ended the young man said to me that he enjoyed the service and I agreed.

I work at the church and had remembered a task I had to complete so I ran to the office and turned on the computer.

I looked out the window and saw the young man walking toward the sidewalk. I turned for just a second  and he was gone. So many questions.

But I had to get home. I was shaky and once home broke into a fever. I slept for 15 or so hours waking drenched in sweat.

I then started to wonder about that young man. Was he real?  Was it my fever starting?  How did he get to the church and why was he alone?  He had a deep wisdom that you could see in his eyes.

He was so sweet and his quirks, for lack of a better word, were understood by me as I have a few myself.

I wonder if he was an angel sent to earth. I’m sure an angel would enjoy Sesame Street. It would be a sweet way to learn about us humans.

You never know the reason someone might cross your path.  Even if just briefly. Charlie’s innocence and sweetness was a reminder to me not to let life make me too jaded.

He was right, I think a triangle is my favorite shape.