Authors Observation and Reflective Questions
Many wish their lot was different. Some might admit
that they fantasized about changing places with someone else. Stories abound
where less deserving individuals are lauded, and those who do deserve praise
are passed over. Such it seems is Naomi’s and perhaps your lot. This posting
shows how quickly the individual who was seen as a menial can become a person
that others will chose to favor.
- What do you wish would change?
- How would your situation be different?
- How would the changes you wished for change you?
The Text
The
next morning, Naomi was in the vestibule dusting the sideboard when Mr. Ralph
Martinez, the attorney, and Padre Paul, the priest, greeted each other while
standing at the threshold to the door. As she walked toward the door, she
watched the play of their shadows through the opaque glass and heard ever
nuance of their dialogue because the transom was open.
“Why
in this day of modern conveniences does La Señora still keep with the old
ways?” she heard the attorney mutter. “Still no doorbell.”
“One
should not change anything that still works. Better a caring heart and an
offering to Our Blessed Mother Church.”
Since
she had spoken with each of them, Naomi knew they were aware of the old woman’s
condition. Over her years in the casa, she had heard a lot about these
men and assumed that each hoped the lady would select him to manage her estate
since she was, obviously, unable to do so for herself. Others had informed her
that each of them had tried to curry favor with La Señora and the general
population of El Barrio, and each had worked hard to acquire a manner of
meekness. From observing them when they visited Tía, she knew that each valued
his own wisdom, each believed that he alone should manage the old woman’s
funds.
Perhaps,
she mused, the attorney has
decided that everyone needs his services in the end, even those who fear God.
And the priest, no doubt, he believes his services at the end of one’s life are
even more important than those of a lawyer. She could almost hear them
thinking, Whom else could she trust but me? She was aware that her
musing was not appropriate, so she took a deep breath and pulled the door open.
Nodding a humble greeting, she gestured for them to enter. As she did, she
reminded herself that they considered her little more than a necessary nuisance
and knew that never in their wildest dreams could they have imagined how her
presence in Tía’s house was about to change all their plans and hopes.
She
watched the two men as they stepped into the shuttered semidarkness of the casa.
“Tía is resting for a moment,” she explained as she led them into the
parlor. “Her strength left as she was preparing to see the two of you. But she
will be all right in a while.” She motioned to a silver tea service, which she
had set out for their visit. “May I pour you some tea?”
The
padre looked at her in apparent amazement. Since she had never before spoken to
them beyond what was necessary, Naomi wondered what was going through his mind.
“Dear,”
the old padre began as he took a sip of tea from a delicate china cup, “where
did you learn to make tea that is so rich—almost like coffee?”
Naomi
glanced up from the cup she was pouring for herself and smiled. She knew that
neither of these men had ever concerned themselves about her before, and that
was to her advantage. “Why, Padre, you flatter me. Thank you for being
interested in such a small thing as this little service, which I have done for
you when you visited La Señora. This tea is made like one would make
espresso. You may know it better as sweet tea because after I poured your tea,
I added sugar and cream both in large portions. I learned to make it this way
from mi mamá while I was yet a young girl in Spain
Insight
Insight unlike hindsight or foresight allows us the
luxury of imagining what would happen ‘if.’ Without the ‘if’ we are day
dreaming, spinning yarns. With the ‘if’ of possibility we feel free to imagine,
and our imaginings can take us to a place where survival is replaced with an
inner reality more real for some than the one they are living.
Revelation 22: 17 says, The Spirit and the
bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is
thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of
life.
In Biblical Judaism the father chooses the bride and pays the bride price. Once betrothed, the groom builds a home. Although all might be ready, the groom cannot fetch his bride until the father tells him to. While the bride waits for the day when her intended will fetch her, her days are filled with preparation so that when she is claimed, she has everything that her home and husband will need.
In Biblical Judaism the father chooses the bride and pays the bride price. Once betrothed, the groom builds a home. Although all might be ready, the groom cannot fetch his bride until the father tells him to. While the bride waits for the day when her intended will fetch her, her days are filled with preparation so that when she is claimed, she has everything that her home and husband will need.
The bride, like Naomi and perhaps you, might know very little or nothing about what will be. Yet the possibility of a bright future and the insight that being set free from previously imposed restrictions allow one to hope. Where there is hope the heart quickens, ones step is lighter, and we smile.
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