The Church Lady

By Dinah Dalder, Trinity United Methodist Church

A few years ago, one of our vehicles needed to be in the repair shop for several days. It is always hard to adjust family routines when suddenly without wheels, so we were happy to get the news that our car was fixed and ready to be picked up. After evaluating several options, my husband and I decided that it made the most sense for me to take the bus from work to get the car. The route was really easy - the bus stop was across the street from my office on campus.  I could make one transfer downtown and then get dropped off close to the repair shop. When I got on the bus downtown, I passed by a man who seemed vaguely familiar as I proceeded to the seat I picked out. I could not think who that man was and occasionally our eyes would “catch” like we were both trying to figure out how we knew each other. As the bus travelled along for a while, the man turned around, looking at me, and loudly exclaimed, “I know you! YOU ARE THE CHURCH LADY!” Everyone on the bus turned their heads to look at who was on the bus while I had visions of The Church Lady from Saturday Night Live! When the two of us got off the bus, the man thanked me for being at the community meal, which was held every Sunday at Trinity, and thanked our church for the help he received over the years. He saw me as a person, but I think he was really seeing God’s love.