It's been a very long time since i was hit by the emotional equivalent of an eighteen wheeler, completely out of the blue and from the most unexpected source.
At my church is a little old lady. She is in her ninth decade of life, is of Irish origin, diminutive size and with some of the strongest "I am a little old lady whom you can neither shock nor intimidate" vibes I have ever encountered. She is also one of the most delightful people I've ever known.
She took a liking to me when we first met over twenty years ago now (I think the Scotttish accent helped, a fellow Celt in England) and made it a habit to say hello, and I did the same in return, and a friendship has grown from there.
Her faith is way stronger than mine will ever be, but I have never seen her be judgemental or unkind. She joyfully welcomes everyone as they are.
Just as an example, a recent event at the Church had at least five different ethnicities, nine nationalities that I am aware of (probably more), and pretty much everyone and their families in often magnificent national dress.
I was chatting with her as we watched everyone line up for a group photo afterwards and said to me, with utter sincerity "I want to take that photo and send it to that Farage, to show him that THIS is what our country HAS been like, IS like and SHOULD be like!"
She is also the sort of person who can come up to you and say, quite matter of factly, "I'm going into hospital next week for an operation. Nothing major, but I need someone to pray for me, and I've decided it's going to be you."
When she IS in hospital she starts conversations with ALL the staff and within about ten minutes is more than likely being adopted by them.
Needless I say, I adore this woman unreservedly.
Anyway, recently she asked me to help sort something out for her. The exact details are not important here, but I felt a bit intimidated, as it was an unusually significant thing to be asked to help with.
I asked why she had chosen to ask me to do it, and her answer floored me.
"I don't want to burden the family with it. But I KNOW you will deal with it, because I know YOU. You get things done, and I trust you."
I mean, I was near tears at that point already. She then continued with something I will NEVER forget
"Over the years, I think we're more than just friends. I think we see the world the same sort of way. There's an Irish term for that which English doesn't have. In Irish Gaelic, you're my "anam cara".... the closest translation would be... "soul friend".
Someone actually just called me their soulfriend, a term I didn't even know was a real thing until that exact moment, and those who follow me will know WHY that term has special meaning for me.
I mean... I was going to say yes to helping her anyway, but with that I had to say yes. Who could turn down a request from someone who called you their soulfriend?
