She walked unannounced into my...
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She walked unannounced into my office, a stranger to the church and to me. She was poorly dressed, unkempt, and looked around her as if she expected the walls to bite. Her problems were almost beyond my comprehension, a sorry tale of alcoholism, abuse, family strife, and financial ruin. I marvelled that she had even been able to find her way here. "What can I do?" she said, gasping out her story between bouts of sobbing. Rushing in where angels fear to tread, I began to suggest some ways she might attempt to deal with her dreadful situation. Every idea I advanced she curtly brushed aside as either impractical or undesirable or both. The reality I saw was that some radical change had to be made in her life, but she was unable or unwilling to deal with the potential consequences of such a break. When she left, I believe both of us had a strong sense of dissatisfaction. When I next saw her, months later, the change in her was so dramatic that it took me a few seconds to realize that this was the same woman. She positively radiated self-confidence and health. Something wonderful had happened in her life, and she had come to thank me for my help. To my utter consternation, what had proved so helpful to her was something I had no memory of ever saying. -- Walker
