Spirit at the Grocery Store

I was in total denial that I needed hip replacement surgery. I was continuing to hold onto the belief that through sheer will, I could be healed through some combination of yoga,

supplements, prayer and stubbornness.

In this state of long suffering waiting for the answer to my prayer, I found myself one day, cane in hand, hobbling around a corner grocery store. I noticed a young man following me around and thought he needed money. He finally came up to me and said he could heal me and reached out his hand. I was hoping he was next going to tell me he was a body worker of some sort and was giving me his card... Nope.

He grabbed my hand, wouldn't let go, and started to raise his voice to Jesus to heal me.

It is a very small grocery store and we were blocking the aisle. As he continued there was a part of me that wanted him to be able to heal me. He finally stopped for a moment and asked me if I was healed and I told him I wasn’t sure but I felt better and thanked him. Not good enough -- he grabbed me with both hands and since our Lord and Savior must have hearing problems began to talk to him louder.

Suddenly I felt hands on my shoulders. I turned and looked behind me and a very large, muscular, filthy, shirtless, shoeless man, whose body odor was almost overpowered by the smell of alcohol on him, had joined in the effort.

Obviously not having the faith of a mustard seed, I silently offered my own prayer to hear an announcement overhead of, "Clean up crazies in aisle 2."

Inspired by each other and now competing for Jesus' attention, my healers voices grew in volume and range. I waited for a small break in the prayers and wrestled out from under their hands, said thank you, and limped as fast as I could to the cash register. Behind me I could hear an argument started between store employees and the underdressed gentleman over their inability to sell him anymore alcohol.

I keep wondering what the story would've been like if I had been healed. Instead, I've gone through successful surgery, been told I was ahead of the standard recovery, and had four weeks with time to reflect, rehab, read, and watch too much news -- which is another entry.

Spirit at its comical, theatrical best had given me an answer to my prayers. Maybe it wasn't the miracle I wanted but it was the miracle I needed. I ultimately surrendered to it and moved forward.