by Doug Blair
Or young man
In the one good suit,
Files underarm,
Seeking again today
That job of promise
In the wake
Of broken promises?
Or single mother
In the parking lot,
Trying to contain
Three youngsters
Who cry, compete
And complain?
For so long they were invisible.
But then came
A Great Pain,
A faltering,
A disruption
In schedule
And in connection.
An embarrassment
A helplessness
A slip from the ranks
All in the mercies of Providence.
And I see them now,
And I feel the pulse
And reach out.
BARRENNESS
Eight-thirty P. M. Automatic garage door closed. Back from Thursday night Men’s Group. Don Parks sat in the darkness, tapping the steering wheel. It was the third time today he had thought of his work-mate, Steve Fornsby. (Steve was obviously having some problems. But bottled up.)
Four rings on the cell phone:
“Steve, its Don Parks. It seems that you have been coming to mind throughout the day. There is something you need to talk about. I’m available.”
“Well Don, it’s kids. You know that Lorraine and I have had difficulty…Look, I can’t do this now. She is in the next room. It’s very sensitive.”
“Buddy, I have been out for the evening. Even now I am sitting in my car. How be you grab a jacket and meet me at Timmy’s on Weber Street in ten minutes?”
“Isn’t it kinda late for this? Oh, alright…”
That which ensued was something which Don had not even been able to achieve yet with the Men’s Group. Real heart-opening. Real engagement. Real vulnerability. It had been easy to do in the come-and-go anonymity of the coffee shop.
Steve Fornsby and Lorraine were childless. Numerous efforts with the OB-GYN had led nowhere. Best indication was that the problem lay with Steve. He had become testy. Sex was becoming a chore and a source of despair. Recently jealousy had raised its ugly head. Lorraine was a Principal’s secretary at Central Secondary. Jeff Brant was a Phys-Ed teacher, recently divorced. There were suspicions…
And so it went for the next forty minutes.
“Steve, I don’t know if you realize it or not. Our second is adopted. Very difficult first pregnancy, and we went this way for a boy. Never regretted it. Like an oasis of happiness. The older sister really rallied with us. Jimmy is truly family. My pastor Keith’ s second is also adopted. Same story.
I believe that there are a couple of guys we should meet who could help us on this. I have grown to trust them. They will keep their mouths shut. If money is an issue with adoption, we could kick in. We have some connections locally and with distant agencies.
Talk this over with Lorraine. I will be praying. I know that Becky would make herself available for your wife. I would suggest you not go to all the life science considerations being touted in the news. Beautiful kids are out there, waiting. One could be yours…”
In the darkness of the parking lot two mature men hugged and wept, shook hands, ‘til next time.
Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ. (Galatians 6: 2)
He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord. (Psalm 113: 9)
