MATILDA

A partly crippled, elderly lady carrying two large grocery bags, trudged uphill across the park, through at least a foot of swirling snow. As she walked against the wind, she was becoming very short of breath.

Carefully, she climbed a huge snow bank to cross the icy street. On the other side, she waited for a moment and then climbed over that snow bank too. The snow plow had just gone through the area. She almost fell, but by holding the bags very carefully, she managed to stay on her feet.

None of the side walks had cleared yet after the two day storm, so she walked down the middle of the street, slipping and sliding along, as she walked. The street was still very icy under all of the fresh snow, as the storm had started with a lot of rain. It had turned cold very suddenly and the rain had turned to snow. The wind had been howling for several days, so there were drifts everywhere. Few of the neighbours had ventured out to shovel their driveways yet.

One of her elderly neighbours stood in the door and watched her walk down the street. He waved at her but for some reason, she did not wave back. He wondered why, but did not take the time to open the door to ask. "Maybe she is cranky today," he thought to himself. Generally, she would wave at him when she walked by. Most of the neighbours in the area knew her quite well, as they had seen her come and go many times. She always smiled and waved at them. Sometimes she would take the time to talk with them.

Just before she was about to turn the corner, one of two well dressed, young men standing in another doorway, chatting with a pudgy, middle-aged man, another neighbour, hollered,

"Hi there, we are missionaries."

They wondered why she did not say anything and just kept walking. One of them asked the other if maybe she was deaf.

As she rounded the corner, a couple of young boys were frolicking in the fresh snow.

"Hi there, Matilda," one hollered at her. She did not say a word and just kept walking, finally reaching her home. At the doorway, she put the bags down, pulled her keys out of her pocket and went inside. "I think she's mad today," one young boy said to the other.

A couple of hours later, she was seen outside, clearing the snow in her driveway. By this time the snow was packed down and very heavy, as it was still wet underneath. A young couple living across the street stood in the window and watched her shovelling the snow. Their young daughter, suddenly appeared in her pyjamas at the door and waved to her. The young couple quickly sent her off to bed. "Don't bother Matilda when she is working!" her father said sternly. "Go to bed!"

"But I want to go to Matilda's for potato pancakes," the little girl screamed at her parents as she left the room.

Just after Matilda finished clearing the snow and went into the house, two teenage boys showed up at her doorway, ringing the bell repeatedly and finally offering to clear her driveway for five dollars. She quickly sent them on their way.

"Thanks but no thanks. Try the neighbours next door!" Matilda instructed them. "They have been ill with the flu." She pointed towards their house. "You could do theirs for nothing. You are strong, healthy young men," she hollered after them.

Several months later, two very well dressed, clean cut young men in brand new suits, each wearing name tags, showed up at her door, expecting to be invited in.

"I am sorry, I am busy," Matilda said, recognizing them immediately when she answered the door. She looked across the street at their shiny new car.

"We are missionaries," one of the young men explained.

"I know," replied the elderly lady.

"How do you know that?" the other one asked, holding out his brand new Bible. "When were we here before?"

" Several months ago," Matilda responded with a sweet smile.

"We were?" one of the young man said, looking at the other.

"Yes, actually you have been here several times," the elderly lady continued. "You know, I have a suggestion for you. Why not pray that God would lead you into your true mission field and see where you wind up. You are trying to convert a Christian."

The young men stood there stunned.

"Do you know where there are some heathens?" one of the young man asked.

"There are lots of them around," Matilda said, after a moment. "Young man, I went through a very dramatic conversion experience a number of years ago. Before you were even a whisper in your mother's ear, I was converted."

"You did? You were?" The young men looked at her in silence, realizing that she was not about to give them any further explanation.

"Do you know where your mission field is?" the elderly lady continued. "It is not to be found in converting Christians," she said in no uncertain terms, wondering if what they really were expecting was to have her invite them in and to feed them. She wondered if they were soliciting for a donation to their ministry.

"By going door to door," the other young man said as they quietly left.