Doctor or Officer

Today a faith building moment approached me when I least expected it. Upon returning to my dorm, I ran into a friend that I had hung out with this weekend talking to one of the public safety officers. She was looking for me, and luckily I had just walked in as she was about to give up her search. After handing me a card, she left me standing at the desk to be interrogated by the officer who had not seen my in a while.

"Ms. Hall where have you been?" he questioned noticing that I had not passed through the lobby much at night anymore.

"Busy with school," I said leading into a ten minute conversation where the officer filled me in on what was going on in his life. Then towards the end of the conversation he said words that almost made me cry. In a half conversational half prayer voice he said:

"I will be praying for you and your family, that God will continue blessing you..."

And the rest became a blur. I heard this main part of his prayer speech and felt touched. Suddenly, I began to think of how oblivious I had been to those around me who need prayer, but this one man took the time to pray for a random student that he rarely sees. He couldn't have chosen a better time for it. As I was about to walk away, I almost made the mistake of calling him doctor out of habit instead of officer. I quickly caught the mistake, but then asked myself if there was a difference. I call professors doctor all day long, but none of them have fixed anything in my life. Yet, here was this man that just spoke wisdom and healing into my life and society would consider him of less importance. I admit that I too had often avoided him, not knowing the wisdom he possessed. Tonight I had been reminded that people don't have to talk like theologians for God to convey his important messages through them. Sometimes they can be the quirky people that no one pays attention to. Next time I might address this officer by the title he most deserves--doctor. Unlike so many he knows who to turn to for remedies.