The Messenger Read Free Page A

I’ve lost my pass and I can’t get home.”
    The woman showed genuine sympathy as she asked, “They took all you had?”
    â€œEverything,” Ariel said sorrowfully.
    The little woman tch-tch ed. “And now you don’t have any place to stay?”
    Ariel shook her head. “This was not supposed to happen.”
    Sister Clarice had a good chuckle over that. “Well, honey,” she said, “that’s life. Why don’t you come with me, now, and I’ll see if I can’t find you a nice cup of tea.”
    â€œNo, thank you, I—” She looked back over at the desk sergeant. “Oh dear.”
    â€œWhat is it?”
    Ariel sighed. “I haven’t even seen to my task at the hospital.”
    â€œWell, of course, go get your work done, and I’ll just finish handing out these tracts. Then when you’re done, come meet me at the Salvation Army hall. You can’t miss it, the big red brick building just opposite the hospital’s main entrance.”
    ****
    The hospital was busy and noisy and full of people tensely intent on their duties. Ariel was directed down endless halls filled with patients in various stages of distress. A few doors from her destination she had to stop and lean against the wall, her heart was so full of sorrow and compassion for those who surrounded her.
    The door to the room suddenly opened, and a group of women emerged. The last one turned and said with forced cheerfulness, “We’ll be back in time to pray with you before breakfast.”
    â€œThank you, sister,” said a feeble voice from within.
    â€œSleep well,” the gray-headed woman said briskly. She managed to keep her smile in place until the door had shut behind her. Then her chin trembled, and she accepted a friend’s steadying hand. “Oh, Gladys.”
    â€œHave faith,” her friend urged.
    â€œI try, I try, but it’s so hard,” the woman whispered. “It tears at me to see my best friend in all the world lying there in such pain.”
    â€œShe feels that the Lord has heard our prayers,” another said, drawing close. “She is so certain of it.”
    â€œBut—”
    â€œNo buts,” her friend said gently. “We’re here beside you, dear. Lean on us. All we can do is be there for her, pray with her, give her love, and ask that His will be done.” The group drew close around the woman, and together they walked down the long hall.
    Ariel collected herself and entered the room. “Hello,” she said softly.
    â€œOh, excuse me,” the woman said, fumbling for her glasses. “I don’t—”
    â€œIt’s all right,” Ariel said, drawing close enough to see that the woman’s age-spotted cheeks were streaked with recent tears. She sat down on the edge of the bed and took the woman’s free hand, willing love to flow between them. “It really is all right.”
    â€œMy friends,” the old woman said, and suddenly the tears started afresh. “They are all such good people.”
    â€œThey love you very much,” Ariel agreed.
    The woman’s tears continued. “I wouldn’t mind going now, I really wouldn’t. This old body is such a bother. But I keep having this feeling . I can’t explain it better than that. It wakes me up at night. God is near, I know that with all my heart. I keep hoping He is here to guide me home. But then I have the feeling that my time has not yet come.”
    â€œNo,” Ariel agreed, and reached for the glass on the woman’s bedside table. She unfastened the top button to her blouse, drew out the little satchel, and sprinkled a little of the sparkling powder into the water. Immediately the water began to shimmer with rainbow hues. “Would you like to drink this?”
    â€œThat’s a strange place to be carrying medicine,” the woman observed. “What is it?”
    â€œI think you