The Napkin
I’d like to share something with you that was given to me this evening by a patron of Matt Talbot Kitchen. Before you open it, let me tell you a bit about my frame of mind when it was handed to me about 5:15pm.
I think it’s fair to say that the Tuesdays we serve at MTKO are fairly stressful for me. I am a worrier by nature, and by the time “serving day” rolls around on the calendar, I’ve usually wound myself up pretty tightly trying to make sure that nothing has been missed and everything will go as planned. Today, I had the added stress of having endured a couple of very trying days at work, and the knowledge that I am struggling to keep up with my classwork in pursuit of my master’s degree in engineering.
After the rush to get everything loaded…ham , potatoes, cheese, sour cream, broccoli, peas, bananas, etc…drive to York to get Kellie, buy gas, get to Lincoln, unload at the Kitchen, scurry to get the peas and broccoli on to boil, unpack the coolers, get the potatoes back in the oven to reheat…no time to think about anything… I became aware that one of the hearing-impaired guests we’ve served on a number of occasions was sitting at a nearby table, smiling, jotting something on a napkin, and watching us rush around like recently beheaded chickens. You may remember him; he wears a plaid trilby-style hat…last month he was there with a number of his friends, and many of us were touched by the joyful and animated conversations they had with one another while eating. Feeling very pressed for time, I nodded and smiled at him and went back to my furious unpacking of hot potatoes.
Then he got up from the table, and handed me the napkin…
”I’m happy. I’m honest heart. Your heart love us for help the people. Take care for ten commandment / the law. I’m thanking for you and us. Have a nice.”…and it was just what I needed.
I……. I hope that someday I have the opportunity and dexterity to tell him how blessed I am to be able to do this month after month, even though I sometimes fail to take the time to enjoy it.
Namasté, my friend in the plaid trilby hat. May God bless you richly on your journey.
The same to you, my friends.
Tags: Kitchen