“We give out all messages at check in.” John was fairly certain that he heard a low growl.
“I will be calling my lawyer and the newspaper.” John had heard that one many times as well.
“Well, you can do that, here is my card if they want to talk with me and I will explain it to them.” Again the room became dim as the mass of humanity moved through the door and left. John looked back at Maggie, who was breathing deeply, as if she had been holding her breath for the past few minutes.
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When check-in began as normal at that afternoon, John stepped outside and mingled with the ladies as they checked in. Tonight everyone seemed to be in a good mood, but he had the feeling that something was going on. There was a lady who had checked out this morning still hanging around the shelter. Then there were the “we’re up to something” looks in the eyes of the ladies as he talked with them. But the clincher was the staff members who were not on duty milling around the shelter. Something was definitely going on. His heart told him not to worry about it. As the line of ladies checking in dwindled down, he decided to go catch up on his email.
It was close to . John shut down his computer and packed it up. One more check of the grounds and he would be off for home, to his wife and kids. He rose to leave just as April poked her head in the office door. “You need to come out here but don’t look at the parking lot! Only look at the wall!” Her eyes were twinkling.
That was a weird request but with the sort of week he was having, John decided that he was not going to question the directive. He followed obediently behind April, who had been on staff for just over a year and was always good for a laugh.
John had a hunch this was going to be interesting. When he got to the front of the dining room, he saw a chair with a cd player on it. Then he looked out across the parking lot. The lot was full of women and children. April pressed play.
Two of the ladies started a coordinated dance to the worship music. Suddenly others joined in. Some were doing their own thing but it all seemed to go together. They had been practicing this, John realized. He stood in awe and wonder at what he saw. A small boy showed his moves. Guests young and old moved to the music in coordinated rhythm. Smiles covered every face except for John who was amazed and a little surprised at what he was seeing. Close to eighty-five homeless women and children who should be sad and miserable (John knew it was rarely really like that) were having the time of their lives. Some of the kids and even the women had paper bracelets that they had connected together and were adding to their dance.
John wondered, “Does this sort of thing happen at any other shelter in the world?” When the dance ended John was asked to pray for dinner. He was more than happy to do so because he had no idea what to say to the guests. There was no doubt that he was grateful but words seemed too small. With the “Amen”, the ladies ate dinner and he was on his way home. He later learned that what he had experienced was his first flash mob.
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