The ways of God

may be more like those

of the waitress

who has worked there for 37 years,

since she was 17

than those of the 30 year-old cook.

Both heal in comfort food,

apparently the same food viewed from up top

But, the waitress knows the customers

better than the cook does.

He feeds the body

she feeds the soul

The cook prepares what people “order”,

the waitress hears their strained laughter, silence, fights,

tears, rage, longing hungers and joys…

The waitress has a view as to WHY

they order, and eat or not,

what they order.

The cook is limited to the ingredients on had

The waitress KNOWS that it is impossible

to fulfill all that is needed, wanted, longed for.

So, as she places the plates on top of the table

at some other level we cannot see,

in order to acknowledge and honor,

to give full credit for

all of that joy, rage, longing, hope, fear, love…

in some way that we do not know,

she waitress inserts herself in-between the people and food

to listen, hear, hold, look, cry, rejoice with, embrace

to be present to those who

are hungry for life.