Christian Living

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I Can See Clearly Now
© 2009

by

Stephen A. Peterson

On her return to the United States from overseas duty in Afghanistan, Air Force First Lieutenant Amber Klopfenstein stopped into a Methodist church to attend Sunday services wearing her Air Force uniform, she was greeting warmly by members of the congregation of this small suburb of Atlanta, Georgia.

Throughout the service, a woman who sat in front of her constantly whispered words to what appeared to be a middle aged woman seated next to her. Although she was a visitor to the church, Lieutenant Klopfenstein was annoyed by what she considered a chat session between the two women. As the whispering woman became louder, Lieutenant Klopfenstein nearly spoke to reprimand the person of interest. She was only curtailed when the service ended.

As Lieutenant Klopfenstein was leaving the church, she found herself standing directly behind the woman whom she felt had disrupted the service. The preacher greeted the woman with great deal of enthusiasm as well as a complimentary smile: “I’m really glad you brought your sister to our church service. When did she get in from Russia?”

The woman, now smiling, responded: “She arrived early Friday morning.” Turning to her sister she said something to her in Russian. The other woman came up closer to the preacher and gave him a strong handshake and a bright smile.

“I saw you translating for your sister during the service,” the preacher then continued saying. “I want to thank you so much for helping your sister understand what I saw saying. Thank you once again. Please bring your sister back again. We’d be delighted to have her back again.”

The sister moved on. The preacher then came to Lieutenant Klopfenstein. “God bless you this morning. Are you just passing through or will you be here for a while?”

“I am just passing through, sir,” responded Lieutenant Klopfenstein.

“I pray you found something in this day’s message Lieutenant. And if you happen to be in our area in the future, I hope will come back and visit us. We’d love to have you.”

As Lieutenant Klopfenstein entered a taxi to return to the airport, she did recall the preacher’s message: “I was once blind, but now I see.”

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