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DAVID BENTLEY'S WEEKLY COLUMN |
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THE UNEXPECTED VISITOR
As mysteriously as the silent fog crept in from the harbor, a fit looking gentleman appeared in front of the church office window. Following the sidewalk and then the driveway, he stopped at the entrance to the labyrinth. Opening the lid of the wooden box there, he removed a brochure and read it thoroughly. Then putting the pamphlet back into the box, he stood facing the path before him. After taking in a deep breath and expelling it, the man began to perambulate the labyrinth. From time to time, he would stop the crunching rhythm of his steps to stoop and pull a weed from the gravel beneath his feet or straighten one of the path defining bricks. Then he would stand, adjust his posture, and continue his journey while holding the extracted vegetation. By the time he had completed his walk, he held a double handful of weeds. Grabbing a flyer for an upcoming labyrinth event, I went outside to invite the mysterious visitor to come back. Compressing the weeds into his right hand, and wiping the dew and dirt from his left hand onto his trousers, the gentleman took the flyer and scanned it. He said that he would not be able to attend this event, but would return in the future. Then he asked if there was a dumpster behind the building for his weeds. I directed him to a compost pile at the back of the property, and he headed off in that direction. When I got back to the large office window, my mysterious friend had disappeared into the thickening fog. I rubbed my eyes, expecting Rod Serling to appear and end my dream, but I had not been asleep. As surely as he had stepped into my life that day, I know that this unknown stranger will return; and I look forward to that eventuality.
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SAN JUAN ISLANDER © 2008 |
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