Home From Far

She waved at me from across the room. I don't know her name but she recognized me and was friendly. She made me smile. Her daughter had been one of my girls back in the day when I met with teens at the Coffee House. She remembered me.

Scotty and I were eating lunch at the Pizza Hut noon buffet. We have been traveling for several days in places where no one knew our names and I don't think very many really cared to know. We are home now back in our familiar world with familiar winds blowing all around us.

Another friend rose from her bench where her family feasted on pizza and bread sticks to give me a hug. "Are you leading any Bible studies this fall?" she asked.

Hmmmmm ...

I stuttered and stammered.

"I don't know."

I want to study. Do I want to lead? I am not sure right now. I was debating this very thing this morning. Do I need a sabbatical? A longer sabbatical. A refilling?

She was in a study with me for awhile. She is special. She made me smile. She made me kind of want to risk leading again. She would be worth it.

Home.

Two women in one place that appreciated me for me.

They were kind.

Welcoming.

Neither of them knew that I had been away, but it was if they were saying, "Welcome back! It is so good to see you!"

It made me happy to be home from far.