KALEIDOSCOPE

The chapel walls felt like they were closing in on her. A hand fell on her shoulder. She stumbled a bit further backward and fell into the pew seat. The gentle voice of the sage made her nerves calm, at least for a short while. Their eyes met and she tried to look away, tears just about ready to continue streaming down her face.

Sound of the bells made her shift her body in a more alert state. The elder sighed and moved his hand, waving it in a way to request that she make room for him.

He slowly lowered his ancient body into the seat beside the woman. Not only could he sense her great loss, but he could see her thoughts pouring out of her mind. They played like a still painting that was brought to life. The colors, brightly burning like fire, and each image full of such an intensity he felt as if his mind was going to burn from the pain.

Her sniffles brought his mind back to the present moment. He clasped his palms and squinted his eyes as if the daylight was drifting away. It was quite the opposite. The first rays of the sun began to breakthrough the grand colored window glass that always reminded him of a kaleidoscope.

He smiled warmly at her and asked, "I have seen and can feel your pain, my dear. Know that I am here for you and ready to listen to what's weighing you down."

She wiped her tears away with the back of her hand and looked into the elder's ancient milky eyes. They kind of spooked her out from the way those eyes seemed to peer straight into her soul.

The elder chuckled. "Don't worry. I mean you no harm."

She gasped. Was he reading her thoughts? Ah, what kind of elder was he?

He laughed and then said, "So, I see that it will take a while for you to tell me your story, eh. Very well...I can wait...while we do that, would you like a cup of tea?"

She felt a weight lift off her shoulders and smiled. The thought of holding a hot cup of tea brought a tiny smile on her face.

The elder rose from his seat and waved his hand toward the tea room. "Shall we head to the tea room, my dear?"

She placed her hands on her lap and closed her eyes as if saying a little prayer, or a blessing for the day. The elder smiled and thought to himself, 'Hmm...now she could teach my subordinates a thing or two about prayer...I think she will fit right in with us here at the chapel.'