He didn't look as I'd expected when he sidled over to me at McDonalds. At first I gave "the glance", you know the one where the eyes narrow a bit to ward off unwanted attention, but as soon as I peered into his eyes I knew he was the chosen one. He'd returned and it appeared as though he was determined to join up with me. Me! I looked at him for a second with large, unbelieving eyes which quickly turned to unquestioning acceptance. This was it!
Jesus leaned close and softly asked me if I'd order him a cheeseburger, fries, and a vanilla milkshake. Blink. Blink. I don't know what I'd expected him to say to me but it certainly wasn't that. "Okay, everything on the burger?", I said shakily.
"Yes. I'll wait for you at that far table.", he said, pointing to a table by the wall with no-one near it. He sauntered over to the table as I watched, taking in his short, stubby stature, neat blonde ponytail, green checkered knee length shorts, and pale pink muscle shirt. He was so beautiful. Even the fact that he wore black socks with his sandals struck me as so appealing that I almost didn't hear the counter girl when she asked what I wanted to order.
"Ma'am?", she asked again, eyes darting between me and him as though wondering...wondering.
I gave her his order and requested nothing for myself, all thirst and hunger had disappeared the moment our eyes met. My mind was brewing with all the questions I would ask him, all the mysteries of life he'd explain to me. The clerk quickly placed burger, fries, and milkshake on a tray which she lay before me. I paid and then picked up the tray, carrying it to him as though presenting an offering.
Jesus, ever the gentleman, rose from his chair and took the tray from me, setting it on the table. We both sat down, him to eat like a starving dog and me to watch, enthralled. He was so ravenous that it made me sad, wondering how long it had been since a good samaritan had fed him.
Munch, munch, slurp. He ate and drank until all was gone and then he sat back, looked into my adoring eyes and smiled. "Thank you, young lady. I always like to hit McDonalds when I'm back.".
"You mean you come and go often?", I asked with some degree of surprise. I guess I'd always assumed he'd only return once, gather up the good to take back with him and leave the infidels to continue in this hell on earth.
"Oh yes, it will be a long time before I'm finished here.". His fat little forefinger reached into his mouth to dislodge something between his teeth. So precious.
"Am I going with you now?", I asked desperately, terrified that I was mistaken about his intentions. I was ready to go right now, wanted to see the promised land and live with my saviour forever.
Jesus' brows dipped slightly and he leaned forward and uttered, incredulously, "You want to go with me??".
I began to tremble, maybe from fear, maybe from confusion. "It's what I've been waiting for all my life.", I begged. Could it be that I wasn't good enough to go with him? Could it be that 2 or 3 one night stands (or, if I was really honest, 7 or 8) would make me ineligible?
He lowered his head and sighed. When he looked at me once more, he said very gently, "Not today, you wouldn't like where I'm going today. Maybe the next time I'm here.".
He stood up slowly, patted my shoulder and walked out the door. I stayed in my seat and watched him until he was out of sight, tears slipsliding down my cheeks. It took a few minutes for me to pull myself together and make my own exit, striding with confidence along the street as though this had been my aim all along.
With each step, my spirits lifted. He said he'd be back and I knew where to find him when he returned. Jesus sure loved those McDonald fries!
