Cindy and I drove to the mall for some shopping and walking exercise. But later on the way home, we realized we had not done our walking. Normally I’d have kept going, but this time I turned back. Only one parking space was left…near the food court. We grabbed it and hurried inside.

Maneuvering through the crowded mall, we got our exercise in and were about to leave when Cindy decided we needed a quick bite to eat. The food court was full, too, but right in front of us was a table and two empty seats. I closely guarded them while Cindy left to place our order.

That’s when I noticed him. Six foot tall, slim, medium black complexion, well groomed, wearing a tailored black suit, and holding a white cane. He turned his head from side to side, as if listening, then walked to some stairs, his cane easily identifying each step on the way up.

Oh, to be lost and out of place.

 

A lady approached him and he spoke to her. After a few minutes, she stepped back…eyes wide, smile on her face. They shook hands and parted. Then he returned down the steps to his previous spot and faced my direction. Appearing neither confused nor in trouble, he resumed “listening”.

I thought of offering my assistance, but a lady nearby offered first. She took him by the arm and left, only to return a moment later. Curious, I asked her what had happened. “A mall employee came and said he would help him. The blind man told me he had been here all day.” She said nothing more.

After lunch, Cindy and I walked through the food court, and there he was…almost directly in our path! I couldn’t stand it. I had to speak to him. I walked up and asked, “Excuse me, can I help you?” He smiled and shook my hand. His hand was much larger than mine…soft, gentle, and cool.

Things are not always as they seem.

“What’s your name?” he asked. “Ed.” “What was the month, day and year you were born?” “April 15, 1954.” His head rolled back as if he were looking at the ceiling. “A beautiful Thursday,” he sighed.

I asked again if I could help. “No, thank you. I’m just here listening to people, waiting for someone to speak to me. My name is Elam.” He took my hand in both of his and shook it once more, then muttered something. After a moment our time seemed over, so I wished him a nice day and left.

The crowd flowed around Elam, and though he stood out like a rock anchored in a stream, few noticed him. In this blind man was calm, patience, kindness, and perseverance, which he gladly passed on to those who did not pass him by. Maybe he saw more clearly than many with normal sight.

To experience a sense of peace.

I wondered how many spoke to Elam and what he said to them. Did they find something they couldn’t explain, something that gave them chills and filled them with a sense of peace? “Elam” in the Bible has several meanings, such as…forever, eternity, secret, hidden. Was this a chance meeting or something more? Was there a message meant just for me?

Driving home I couldn’t stop talking about what had happened. Then I remembered something. Taking my iPhone, I entered: April 15, 1954. Across the screen came…Thursday, 82°F, sunny.

 

With a sincere sense of our Father’s peace,

 

Ed

 

 

Ed Potts has been a media specialist in Ciloa, overseeing Twitter site design, follower development, and posts. Ed is also a full time Technology Consultant. He and his wife, Cindy, live in Buford, Georgia, USA, have two married sons, two daughters-in-law, and three fantastic grandkids.

 

Footnotes: The original version of this Note of Encouragement (A Sense of Peace) was published January 9, 2017. (1) Read John 9:39.

Pictures: Banner: Last Minute Christmas Shopping, photo by Jason Braverman at the Mall of Georgia, (11-30-2016), Gwinnett Dailey Post. (1) Mall of Georgia Food Court, image created by Simon Properties (9-28-2016). (2)  John 14:27, created by KCIS Radio (5-26-2016). (3) Though this quote is often attributed to Mark Twain as shown in this image created by BrainyQuote, research indicates the author to actually be Christian Nestell Bovee, made in 1857.