Christ Stopped in Bordeaux.
While visiting vineyards in Bordeaux, France, a unique experience happened that unexpectantly left a deep and lasting memory with my traveling friends and me. We stopped for lunch in a highly recommended charming restaurant in quaint Bordeaux. Thinking it would be the ideal place to sit, relax, and unwind after a lovely walk through the city’s colorful picture-postcard local neighborhoods.
Once inside, we were absorbed into the sights and sounds of the enthusiastic diners. Ordering local wine and riveted by the vibrant ambience, we saw an elderly couple enter. He seemed indifferent and downhearted in his wheelchair as she engaged him in animated chatter. She neatly fitted his napkin on his lap while making certain he was sitting comfortably.
With great fanfare she read the menu while gazing regularly over her glasses directly at her still somber and subdued companion. This took almost twenty minutes as they settled in, drank wine, and selected their dinner. Meanwhile, she never actually stopped in her efforts to squeeze a smile from his stoic face. It was mesmerizing.
Our server recognized them, and when she came to our table, we asked about this attractive couple. She told us they were from the neighborhood and were celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary on this very day.
This news further heightened our interest. Why was this elderly adorable couple celebrating their 50th wedding anniversary alone? We then decided to help this couple observe their golden jubilee. We decided a chilled bottle of champagne was perfect for this occasion. The server in her enthusiasm spread this news among the other diners. This brought smiles and attention to the now joyous couple.
Their faces lit up with joy, the husband’s wide grin spanned the room searching for the donors. We asked the server not to tell them just yet. Instead, we watched as this couple enjoyed their romantic dinner with endearing smiles and whispered laughter.
It was beautiful to watch, as we too enjoyed our meal. It was then that our group decided to pick up their entire check. As we informed the server, she began to cry with joy. We asked her to refrain from telling the jubilarians until they finished eating.
As we continued enjoying our meal, we noticed how the whole restaurant seemed to fade into a glowing lamplight which blended well with the softening sounds. The husband seemed the most completely changed.
By now his posture and speech were completely engaged. The couple had erased every worry, ache, and darkness and became lost in the joyous memories of their fifty-years of wedded life.
Finishing our meal, we also noticed that every diner was feeding off the joy of this celebration. Joyfulness does have a way of pushing sorrows beyond our horizons. When the server told them that the meal was our gift, they both began to cry. We then approached their table to congratulate them.
We immediately hugged and kissed with everyone looking. The most surprising thing was to see the youthful allure covering the husband. He acted as if twenty years were removed from his age. I am certain they are still relating this story to friends and family alike, with that same expansive covering of joy!
We bid adieu to our new best French friends. And we all were happy, uplifted, and ecstatic. I know now what a miracle looks like. I saw it on the couples’ smiling faces, in their dancing eyes, and in their tears of gratitude.
God’s grace entered our gift and made their celebration mystical and magical. My friends still talk about how our spur of a moment happening changed the lives of that celebrating couple, healing whatever needed healing.
However, the greater miracle was the lesson we all learned. It does not take all that much to help others. We just need to think about it, risk it, and let the Holy Spirit run with it. I am sure the residue of that moment is still working its goodness on that French couple, because it sure is pouring over my friends and me to this very day.
