The Witness

There was a woman who was very sick and looking for someone or something to take away her pain and suffering. She entered a building with a long corridor, and doors with different signs and even though she was reluctant to knock on each door and go in......she did it anyway. The signs ranged from psychotherapist, hypnotherapist, physical therapist, massage therapist, therapeutic touch therapist.....etc. All were reputable therapists, very qualified and good at their craft she was told, so she started knocking. All were very willing to help, even though she had no money to pay, and were able to guide her through avenues of self-exploration, helping her to release emotional trauma and pain from the past, as well as restore her ability to experience peace and joy in her life. It took a very long time to make her way down the hall finding ways in which to deal with her suffering, but she stuck with it and never gave up hope.

Her hope is what sustained her through the journey, having to endure emotional issues and physical issues that could have very easily been left alone to fester. But again, her hope and determination to get better gave her the strength to endure. She was hoping that surely, after having taken the time to enter each door, and venture into the unknown week after week, month after month, and year after year.......her physical pain and suffering would disappear. But as she got closer she began to realize, something had changed, but it wasn't her illness that left her body........it was all still there intact. There had been no magic potion or miraculous healing to relieve her suffering, but something much different, though she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

As she looked down the corridor, there was only one door left. She was hesitant when she saw the sign on the door, for it didn't look like any of the other signs. There was no implication of therapist, doctor or healer, even though through her journey, her faith in God had deepened and she had gained much wisdom in how to love and nurture self as God loves her. This next door had two words in bold letters........The Witness. She stood there for a while wondering what that meant, not sure if she had already finished her journey and this door belonged to someone else......or if in fact she needed to step through it not understanding how it applied to her.

She knocked, but there was no answer. She turned the knob and the door opened freely, but when she peeked in, there was no one there. She did notice that the office was beautiful. The walls were painted a faint shade of blue, the windows were huge with a wonderful view of trees and blue skies, the desk was old but with character, a comfortable chair and a bookshelf oddly enough filled with all the books she had read over the years. There was a strange sense of peace that came over her wondering if she was dreaming or if she had finally reached a place that would make a difference in her life. She eased over to the desk and sat down in the cozy chair, which had a wrap draped across the back that belonged to her that she used to keep her warm on cold and snowy days. As her eyes finally met the top of the desk, she found a note.

This is how it read:

Dear Seeker....

I hope you find your office suitable for your purpose in life, for you have worked hard and endured through some impossible crossings, never giving up on trying to find meaning from your pain and suffering. I am sorry that I cannot take away your illness for it is not up to me, though you and many others believe that if I have the power, then why wouldn't I heal you? I have found that you are much more valuable sick than well......for your journey has been a test for me to see if you could learn to change your focus from your own pain and suffering, and use it to help others. This in fact will be your healing, not just a simple touch from my hand. So your journey has not been a waste of time, but something that was much more valuable than the masters degree that you were constantly seeking to complete.

You wanted to know more than anything, and for a very long time, what your purpose was in this life, and now your answer has finally been revealed. Your purpose is to be a witness for others that are like you. Those that are broken, lost, sad, frustrated and who do and will most likely continue to suffer from much pain and suffering, either physical or emotional. They need someone to not only pass on the knowledge that you've gained by passing through all the doors in the corridor, but importantly, they need someone to simply be a witness to their pain. For no matter the reason for their pain, or where it originated........ pain is pain.

I hope you are not too disappointed, but in fact excited that you do have your own door, with your own office, desk, and view of the world, even though I thought it was more important to put what you do on the door instead of your name. I didn't think you would mind. I will always be here with you, though you won't see me......you will feel my presence. I hope you will not be angry with me, for it was the only path you could take in order to find this space that is clearly yours. And after all, you did ask.

Sincerely....

The One that hears your prayers