The Lord will come soon!

I walked slowly downstairs feeling quite a bit uneasy. Meanwhile, the entrance door had been opened and people were coming in and out. Just when I wanted to leave the building I noticed an open door to the right. Over it was written in black painted letters: BOOKSTORE
    The remembrance came back to mind: Ah, I came into this building for drinking. Perhaps I will find here! And so I changed my direction and went in.

It was a little shop with only a handful of people in it. I looked around and at one end I saw something that looked like a concession stand with coffee and cakes for sale.
    A minute later I was standing in the middle of the room, enjoying hot coffee and a sweet cake. I started feeling better. Just a moment of peace in all that chaos!
    Suddenly, the woman who had served me turned around and looked directly at me with penetrating, intensely blue eyes. Then she said calmly, "The Lord will come soon!", and turned back to her work.

I stood there in profound puzzlement and shock, as if I had just been smacked in the chest with a sledgehammer. Who has spoken to me through her? I asked myself fearfully.
     I felt frightened and confused all at the same time. The Lord will come soon, she had said. Did it mean that I would have to die on this day? I felt weak in my legs and searched for a place to sit down. So, I went through a door that was opened outside to the street.
                                                   
Surprisingly, the place directly in front of the Jesus-house was now filled with tables and chairs. Men and women were sitting at some of them, drinking coffee, and eating cakes.
    I sat down at the end of a table where a young couple and an old man were talking intently with one another. It was good to hear friendly conversation and warm voices. At least for a while I would be protected.
    My thoughts went back:The Lord will come soon!  Who had moved her to say these words to me? And who was the “Lord”? Could it be a message from my "relatives"? Or from someone else? I had no answer.

Meanwhile I had watched the old man talking passionately to the young couple, who were listening to him with great interest. He spoke with such fervour and enormous detail that he seemed to be trying to convince them of something.
    A strange thought or wish took shape in my mind Perhaps it would help me if I could talk with him.  But immediately doubts came up. Could anyone help in this frightening situation?
    Just at that moment all three stood up sharing friendly amusement and handshakes and then the young couple walked away hand in hand. Suddenly, the man and I were alone.

He stood quietly at the other corner of the table. Now, he looked in my direction. It took some seconds before he seemed to have made his decision. Then he walked around the table, "Hello! My name is Carl. Sorry for asking, but is something troubling you?"
    I was a little bit surprised by his direct manner of addressing me. Was my face an open book for anyone to read? He looked serious yet friendly, and I began to feel confidence in him. “Well, you may be right!", I answered. And again I was surprised by his next question: "Do you know our Lord Jesus Christ?" 

Normally, I would have stopped our conversation right then, but it was no “normal” day! It was perhaps the day of my death! I needed someone to talk, some help!
  Thoughtfully, I answered, "Yes, naturally I know Jesus! But presumably not in the way you mean it!" He nodded sympathetically: "Should we pray together?"
     I kept silence for a moment! Praying? When have I prayed the last time?  In my childhood?  I could not remember exactly. But, why not? I looked around. Some people were still scattered at some of the other tables: "Yes," I answered, "but not here!"
    He made an inviting gesture in the direction of the entrance of the Jesus-house: "They have a little prayer room there where we can be alone!" I stood up and we walked inside together.