40 Days and Nights

True story
Abby’s cold wet nose pressed against my forehead pushing the back of my head deeper into the pillow. My half-closed eyes stared at the clock until I could make out the time. It was 4:45 A.M. Time to get up as there was no amount of belly rubs or forehead kisses that would pacify her. What a terrible night of tossing and turning with what seemed like no restful sleep. I grudging obliged her and under my breath mumbled something about Golden Retrievers being able to tell time and that I was going to start covering the clock so she couldn’t see it anymore. Sitting on the edge of the bed I looked up at the wall where Jesus hung on the cross. It is the same one that kept me safe as a child and now some 50 plus years later the bright red paint that I put on the nail holes and wound on Jesus’ hands, feet, and side faded to a dull red. The color of rust on a saw that was forgotten in the rain.

I went about my morning routine not thinking about what I was doing. My mind was busy thinking about and processing the day ahead. My long drive into the city, parking, catching the commuter bus to an offsite office location and finding the three separate conference rooms for each meeting. Then catching the bus back to the main parking lot. I would be out of the office by noon however I was already dreading the heat and humidity of the afternoon sun. My drive into the office was quiet. Afterall, it was 6:00 AM and most normal people were still at home asleep. With the car A.C. set on maximum I could see the goose bumps on my arms when I stopped for traffic lights. And there were plenty of them. Stupidly and out of boredom one day I counted the stop lights and stop signs on my way into the office… Forty-two altogether. Somehow, I wished that I had never done that…

The main lobby on the first floor was being worked on so security guards were herding people around bright orange safety cones as if we were cattle. Thankfully everyone in for the meetings had the same obstacles and we arrived at the same time. I was thankful for the cool air of the office which served to settle me down enough so that the shuttle bus ride back to the main lot would be a little less stressful. The fifth-floor elevator light was flashing when we tried to leave and the line of people waiting ahead of me was not a good sign. And when the elevator doors finally opened my watch flashed 12:05… And the bus runs on the half hour! I wasn’t allowed to wait in the lobby and there was no way that I was going back to the fifth floor. I walked out into the afternoon sun and immediately started to sweat. My blue and white sheer sucker shirt didn’t stand a chance in the afternoon heat.

There was no shade to be found so I stood on the roadside of the building in hopes of catching a passing breeze created by the fast-moving cars, taxis, and busses flying by. The food court around the corner was lined with vendors of all types however the last thing on my mind was eating. It was way too hot. But someone seemed happy and in a good mood. I heard singing and it was just around the corner from where I was patiently standing. A moment later a young man dressed only in what appeared to be a flowing white hospital gown and wearing red flip flops appeared and without missing a beat of his song he walked by me. I whispered thank you God, he didn’t stop. And then the singing stopped. Afraid to look up I closed my eyes and then felt a tap on my shoulder. I could feel his breath on my damp skin. I opened my eyes halfway and tried to read his name on the hospital band that seemed to float on his skinny arm. I looked up and he was now standing by my side and without saying a word he pressed his long thin fingers deep into my shoulder.

With an authoritative voice he said “ do you know Jesus?”. I lifted my head to make eye contact with him and his eyes were black, and I could not see his pupils. YES, I do. He proceeded to question me about the 40 days that Jesus went without food in wilderness and was then tempted with the treasures of the world by the devil. I closed my eyes and remembered a time as a Senior Deacon in a local church. I worked with the Pastor late one night as we prayed over a man just like this man in an attempt to cast out a Demon that possessed him. In a final act of prayer, we were able to do that and the Demon was cast into a nearby lake in Jesus’s name.

The man pushed closer, peering into my eyes and said that he too had been in the wilderness. And he was very hungry and thirsty. I slowly lowered my briefcase and put my arm around his shoulder. When did you last eat? He couldn’t remember however it had been days. I continued to hold him close and with my other hand I pulled a worn and wrinkled ten dollar bill from my pocket. Here, take this and get something good to eat from one of the food vendors in the court yard. He looked up from the money that was now firmly clenched in his hand and said “you do know Jesus, don’t you?

Just then I heard the commuter bus honk twice and I turned and motioned one minute. When I turned back the man was gone. I reached down to grab my briefcase and there on the ground was the ten dollar bill, a wrist band with no-name, and one red flip flop.