1000 yards in her shoes

Now he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. And just then there appeared a woman with a spirit that had crippled her for eighteen years. She was bent over and was quite unable to stand up straight. When Jesus saw her, he called her over and said, ‘Woman, you are set free from your ailment.’ When he laid his hands on her, immediately she stood up straight and began praising God. But the leader of the synagogue, indignant because Jesus had cured on the sabbath, kept saying to the crowd, ‘There are six days on which work ought to be done; come on those days and be cured, and not on the sabbath day.’But the Lord answered him and said, ‘You hypocrites! Does not each of you on the sabbath untie his ox or his donkey from the manger, and lead it away to give it water? And ought not this woman, a daughter of Abraham whom Satan bound for eighteen long years, be set free from this bondage on the sabbath day?’ When he said this, all his opponents were put to shame; and the entire crowd was rejoicing at all the wonderful things that he was doing.

This woman speaks to me each time I read her story. I so wish she had a name. Is it Lilly, short for Lillian? Or maybe Andrea and her girlfriends called her Andy? Maybe she is sort commonly referred to as grandma or nana or mama. 

I have gotten stuck on the ground beneath her this time around in her story. What was lying beneath her, the 2x2 area of earth within her vision? 

I only find those answers when I turn them on myself. Right now, for example, my toenails are painted a new favorite lavender blue. The nail polish was a gift, a care package I received at a caregivers day of rest. I've worn the color almost all summer. The big toe on my right foot is made of acrylic. I've never done that before and while this is more information than anyone needs to know, it remains part of picture of the earth beneath me... If I were bent over, unable to stand up. 

Also beneath me today is a Berber style rug. Taupe in color and the design is a series of 2" squares that are laid on the diagonal. Between me and the front door, there are three significant stains. Or is the shape of a paisley. The others are dribbles in curves lines. If I were to walk from this chair to the front door, the stains would mark 30 and 60% of the journey, respectively. 

I take 16 steps from here to the front door. The rug in the hallway outside is thicker but still a taupe color, swirled with dark red and green and maybe blue. I would know for sure if I was bent over, unable to stand up straight. 

14 steps on the carpet and then 11 one foot square marble tiles before the elevator. The buttons to push are on the right hand side of the elevator and there is both an up and down button. I would have to feel for them if I were bent over, unable to stand up straight. 

The flooring on the first floor is different than the flooring in the other floors. That is how I know where to get off the elevator. Turn right, then right, then through the two different doors to outside where the pool is. The pool is a clean blue and it sparkles with the mountain sunshine. There are two aspens trees reflected on the water. In front of me is rocky mountains, keystone ski area. I cannot see them, because I am bent over, unable to stand up straight. 

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