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Thursday, September 17, 2009

Connie and The Copy Machine



She was tired. She was frazzled.
She was preoccupied. Focused only on microwaving a cup of hot coffee to take down the hall with the stack of papers under her arm. Too busy for nonsense. Too busy for me.

But did you ever have the feeling that somehow the person standing right in front of you was placed there for a reason?
I was at the copy machine, getting ready to leave work for a harried and unexpected medical appointment - the kind that follows an unnerving phone call at the worst possible time.

You get ready. You go. You think later.

All I could think of at the moment was Connie's praying blonde head standing right in front me - waiting on her coffee and looking oh so busy. Little did I know I waited on Providence.

There are times in your life when you just don't give a flying flip what anybody thinks and you pull from those things you know that you know that you know to be true.

I knew Connie was a praying woman.


She turned to look at me, standing by the water cooler and the paper things flying out of my hand and my sweater all crumpled up around me like I'm freezing to death and no coffee-that-I-desperately-needed in sight with a puzzled look of something akin to terror on my face.

"What's wrong?" she asked.

"I have to leave. I need your prayers today."


Concern. Love. Years of working together. Friendship. Knowledge. History. Love. Did I mention love?

"What's wrong?"

"I need the peace that passes understanding," I said.
Did I mention Connie was a praying woman?

I've said it on this blog before and I'll say it again. Everybody needs at least one person they can get to in a hurry when prayers need to fly to heaven. Today was one of those days. What divine proclamation that this woman happened to be in my path at that exact moment of dread and uncertainty.

I think I mentioned Connie was a praying woman.

I don't know what your beliefs are, if you believe in prayer, what you believe about it or if you even care what my beliefs are - I respect your views - but I'm here to tell you that there
are some things in this world you just can't explain. And there are a handful of women in my life who know how to reach God. They would drop everything at a moment's notice and plead my case or yours before The Almighty - and not so quietly, I might add. Over the years it's been children mostly, occasional fits of midlife insanity, trivial annoyances (husbands come to mind), souls in need of settling. I have been the giver of those prayers and the humbled recipient more times than I can count. Nobody kept score. It just flowed between us like an unspoken laser of love and nobody cared what chores awaited or how late the hour. There are moments I remember when the tangible presence of something so unearthly settled in among us - like the sounds of aching soft strings on a well-played cello deeply in tune.

But today, the only utterance Mimi had was fear.

Did I mention Connnie was a praying woman?
I don't even know how she flew over to me that fast - hot coffee melting in the microwave cup all spilling everywhere and the clock ticking way past time for the bell to ring tardy we never even heard while her loving prayers spilled over my shirt and into my hair and around my crumpled sweater that even smelled like fear right straight down into the fibers of my frightened heart.

Connie.

She was a praying woman.
And so my friend took me in her arms and surrounded me with the strongest part of herself.

She didn't know that that phone call held a biopsy result. She didn't need to know - and yet I knew she knew. And somehow I knew that my weakness in that moment was justified, my pride a fleeting nuisance, and that relying on the gift God had stationed right in front of me and the water cooler was the strongest thing I could possibly do for myself. Suddenly, it didn't matter to me what the outcome of that prayer would be. Connie's words were all that mattered and the mercy they held as she pled openly before her God on my behalf. At that moment, there was a peace that passed understanding in the copy machine room that no amount of anything could have taken away from me.

"No, Miss Pencil Skirt, you do not have cancer," I heard the doctor say a short while later. "You can relax now."

I don't know why or how her frazzled cup of morning met my unexpected need precisely at the moment it did, but grace never held a finer moment.
And I never knew a finer friend.
Did I mention Connie was a praying woman?

23 comments:

Finding Pam said...

First off, I am so thankful that you do not have cancer. I have faced this several times and I know the dreaded fear one feels when the doctor calls in person.

I have a group of prayer warriors/
friends that I turn to when I need prayers and concerns lifted immediately to our Father. It awesome how we return those gifts to others as they were given to us. I am a firm believer in the power of prayer.

Just remember where two or more are gathered in my name. Praises Mimi!

LADYHIGHTOWER said...

Praise be to the Almighty! Bless Connie! Bless you, Mimi! The peace that passeth understanding flows swiftly in the River of Grace! You are one of the Golden. Did you know that, Mimi Pencil Skirt? Had the outcome been different you still would have triumphed! Don't you know how many lives you have touched? How many souls' prayers reach the Other Side for you? Never despair! For you are loved mightily...

Svem said...

I'm relieved by the result too, and also observe, along with Lady Hightower, that you are loved mightily.

Mojo said...

Whether it was divine intervention that determined the outcome or not, what you got from your friend was irreplaceable. Maybe she influenced the results, maybe she didn't, but the important thing is she gave you the peace to face the news -- whatever it might be -- with a little less fear, a little more calm. And that's priceless.

And however it came to be, I'm unutterably happy to know the results were favorable. Because the world's a nicer place with you in it.

Charles Gramlich said...

I'm very glad the diagnosis turned out good. That must be a weight off.

When I need prayers I call my mom.

Durward Discussion said...

It is wonderful news that the biopsy is negative. It is even more wonderful that you had someone to turn to for comfort and strength. There are those people we all need to hold us upright when we don't have the strength to do it for ourselves. It is good Connie was there for you at that time.

Akelamalu said...

The power of prayer and healing is a miracle to behold.

The results are wonderful, now you need some rest and to take care of yourself Mimi my lovely. You know I'm sending Reiki. xxxx

The Gal Herself said...

Oh, good goobies, I am so glad you're OK! I went through the same drill just a few months ago (and, in case you don't recall, I remember that you were very supportive), so I know what a shit process you just went through.

I'm glad you have a Connie. Comfort is important, never more so than at a time like that!

Now, breath deeply. C'mon. Deep, cleansing breaths. You're OK now.

Dawn Drover said...

We all need a Connie in our lives. I'm so glad she was there for you in your time of need...


{Big Hugs}

Mimi Lenox said...

Pam - It is so true.

Mimi Lenox said...

LadyHighTower - I love your spirit and enthusiasm and all that goes with it. Thank you for that.

Mimi Lenox said...

Svem - Smile. Thank you.

Mimi Lenox said...

Mojo - I could say the same of you, my friend.

Connie is one of a kind.

Mimi Lenox said...

Charles - We all need a praying Mom.

Mimi Lenox said...

Jamie - She really brought a calming presence to me. Thank you.

Mimi Lenox said...

Akelamalu - You know I can feel your Reiki.

Mimi Lenox said...

Gal - Yes, I remember your ordeal. So glad it turned out well for you. That was very scary.

Breathing....

Mimi Lenox said...

Dawn - I told her about the post today. I hope she reads it and realizes just how special she is.

katherine. said...

yes...amen the biopsy was negative.

Connie sounds like one of those friends you go to when you need a Warrior.

She was your blessing...helping you to find God's peace.

Kitten said...

Thank goodness your biopsy was negative!

I totally get what you said about people being there for you just when you need them the most. What a touching tribute to your friend.

Travis Cody said...

It's not my thing. But it is your thing so I'm glad that you had someone to bolster you.

And I'm even more relieved at the outcome.

Xmichra said...

Definately glad that your result was negative :) and glad you have a friend that is there to help you through what was, a very tough moment in time.

Cinnamon Girl said...

I am glad you found someone to lean on at exactly that moment. You are a truly strong woman, but that does not mean you don't deserve a someone to lean on. And Say Hallelujah on the results =)

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