Friends on a Plane

My pastor recently returned from a trip to Israel; my friend Mary flies to Haiti in a couple of days. I can safely tell you that neither one supposed at new year's dawning that a journey was in the offing.

In early February Pastor Ted was delighted to accept an abrupt vacancy on a scheduled tour of the Holy Land. The congregation was pleased. My husband and I, and probably many others, were anticipating how he would thread the impressions of his pilgrimage through his sermons. I asked him to take special note of the Sea of Galilee,because were I to be magically transported to Israel, and told to choose one site; there I would stand, walk and ponder, wade and reflect, on the Jesus of the gospels.

About two days into Pastor Ted's itinerary he felt unwell. As the others visited Cana where Jesus turned water into wine, Pastor Ted opted to rest on the bus. As he worsened he asked for and received immediate medical attention. He was taken to an excellent hospital where the doctors diagnosed and treated heart attack. He was swaddled safely in the cocoon of what turns out to be an extraordinary health care system. He may have been safer than if he were alone in his study or walking the local rail trail. His friend and tour guide called pastor Ted's refurbished heart another miracle at Cana.

Last summer Mary enjoyed her first camping experience. This is another blog worthy entry for sure, but she coped beautifully. The memories of that week-end at Baxter State Park are why I'm confident she can endure the potential discomforts of her week in Haiti. She is the second nurse I'm aware of in this city of 6000 plus who has volunteered to help alleviate the physical sufferings of the earthquake survivors. Mary is responsible for her own airline ticket, her meals, her passport, her inoculations, etc. Our church members, her friends, and family have donated money, cash, checks, and medical supplies. People seem so relieved to have a direct way to help.

Her feet will be on Dominican Republic soil by Sunday night. Her hands will be soothing ailing Haitians by Monday afternoon. She would demure, but I am humbled by her courage. I would want to go with my husband, my daughter, a friend or all three. I know there are thousands of sojourners like Mary; they will deliver the prayers, gifts, and money of thousands of families and friends; countless thousands of kindnesses have and will be extended. If Haiti were a lame man, and simple human empathy and immediate response were a cure...Haiti would get up, no leap up...and walk. God bless you, Haiti.

I've been thinking that somehow Pastor Ted and Mary are like prisms. As white light enters and exits a prism it disperses into the colors of the rainbow which bend or refract depending upon the speed at which they travel through glass. Red bends the least. Violet bends the most. My friends regarded, reviewed, and respected the white lights in their lives: spouses, children, parents, siblings, mentors and colleagues. I know they prayed. They each chose a violet path, bent by touching anticipation and tender trust, away and afar from the comfort of established routines.

The moment Mary's daughter made her farewells this morning was so pure I had to look away. Sometimes true courage is in staying home. The color blue is nestled up against violet, not as bent, but close. The blue path is the path of those who wait for a loved one's safe return. That is a well-worn path for the dear, devastated Haitians and a historic truth in the often tumultuous middle east. Thank you, Pastor Ted and Mary...friends on a plane.

Mary traveled to Haiti under the auspices of the

Good Samaritan Mission Council at their base in La Romana, Domincan Republic.