7-1/2

I had just moved to Sun Prairie and one of my first goals was to find a chiropractor. After that, a massage therapist. My chiropractor recommended Melissa of “Magical Therapies” so off I went to give her a try. I walked into a room filled with spa music and crystals. And Melissa. A woman who turned out to be a great giver of massages. Also a woman who gave respect to astrology and numbers. And…also God. 

Our relationship started off as most do with someone you see once a month and only really talk for the first 15 minutes until I’m lost in the dreamland of massage. But we made the most of those 15 minutes. I would tell her a little about my life, my family, my job and she would do the same. And over time, I began to get the impression that Melissa had very few people in her world who spoke life and joy and encouragement into her. So I began to pray each time I went that there would be an opportunity to do just that. And slowly it began to happen.

I would arrive to an eager Melissa. She wanted to tell me about a problem or decision or choice she had to make and wanted my opinion, my perspective. As she talked, I prayed. And then did my best to answer her questions, along the way making sure she knew how valued she was, how deserving of respect she was, how worthy of love she was. Not quite that blatant, but you get the picture. And this went on for months, for years.

This past summer a shift took place. It started with my telling Melissa about a teaching that I was giving at church the upcoming Sunday. A teaching on kindness. She asked what I was going to say about kindness so I gave her the basic outline. The next time I went she couldn’t wait to tell me how she, herself, had practiced kindness over the last month - helping to clear glasses at the bar she was at, opening the door for people, helping others carry things. She was on top of the world and felt so great. I celebrated with her, telling her what impact she had on people and how God was so very proud of her.

Keep in mind that during ALL these conversations, I’m lying on my stomach with my head facing the floor.

The next month she wanted to talk to me about an annual houseboat excursion that she and her friends take every summer. She was hesitant to go this time because of one particular woman. A woman who spends the entire time slandering people, including those in their circle. I didn’t tell her not to go, but encouraged her to value herself and maybe choose herself over this “friend.”

The next month she excitedly told me that she hadn’t gone and felt great. She had separated herself from this woman and it seemed to have an influence on her other friends. They were all working to remove themselves from this unfortunately toxic woman.

Last Monday I was back to see Melissa and, boy, was she excited to see me. She wanted to tell me about her upcoming trip to Guatemala. The first few days would be leisure while celebrating the “Day of the Dead,” BUT the rest of the week she would be helping to build a house for someone. “I just thought it would be good to do something nice for someone.” It didn't take much prayer on my part to celebrate her and tell her how wonderful it was that she was choosing to serve this family, how God is over the moon thrilled and so proud of her. She paused and apologized for crying. 

Melissa went on to tell me about a Mother Mary necklace that she had and how she had given it to a friend who admired it. She had also gone searching and found a Mary Magdalene spiritual retreat that she was looking to attend. She was so excited about all of this that she could barely contain herself. I definitely got a good leg massage while she talked. 🙂

During all this time of visiting Melissa, not once did I ever invite her to church. It never felt right, never felt like the right time. But as I laid there, this time, taking in all she had shared, I asked God the question. “Is now the time to invite her to church?” Those thoughts were barely whispered when Melissa suddenly stopped the massage and apologized for interrupting. 

She leaned in and quietly asked, “Did you say you have masses at your church at Christmas?”

Me: “Yes, we do. In fact we have services on the 23rd and the 24th. Lots of services to choose from. If you’d like to come, I could sit with you so you won’t feel so lost.”

Melissa: “Oh, I’ll just take it all in and when they tell me to say, ‘God the Father,’ I’ll say it.”

Me: “Well, I’d love for you to come. And you can invite your friends, too, if you’d like.”

Melissa: “Thank you.”

I laid there with tears in my eyes, tears freely falling to the floor. It was a spiritual moment unlike anything I had ever felt before. God was in this place.

When we were all done, I told Melissa I’d see her next month, November 15th. She immediately got excited and told me that it was a magical number. I just looked at her blankly, having no idea what she was talking about. Apparently, her flight to Guatemala was at 11:15 am and I was seeing her on 11/15. Okay. Well…I gave her a big smile which was immediately returned. We hugged and both said we couldn’t wait until next month.

I walked out of her place in a daze, especially when I realized that I had been coming to see Melissa for 7-½ years! For 7-½ years God had been leading us to this moment. This moment when Melissa’s heart and mind and soul and spirit became open to God. It was one of the most humbling and exciting moments that I have ever had. I want to somehow put it on the wall in my home, in my car, my office: 7-½. 

How often have I wanted God to move quickly or questioned whether he was moving at all. Well, this was a clear, unquestionable reminder that God is always at work. Biding his time, doing his work in us until the moment is right. The moment when we’re about to experience something amazing.

7-½. Now that’s a magical number!