i have been talking to alot of strangers lately -- the cleaning lady in school, the other one at a hall canteen, and other new faces i see in church (like Auntie Dorothy, mentioned some posts ago). But the one that got me thinking lately was this lady i met at the lift near the canteen yesterday, a lady with spunky hair in her late thirties, dressed in a navy blue polo tee and jeans. She was holding the lift for me as i stepped in with my cup of milo. And she had the widest smile. It was the sort that reassured you immediately, and she had looked at me as though she knew me. 'have you eaten?' she had asked, eyes crescent as she held that wide smile. 'no,' i'd said, smiling weakly while sipping my milo. Truth was, i had walked around the canteen, decided to queue at the chinese mixed veg stall, but left the queue when it was nearing my turn cos the food looked quite gross. Not a satisfying dinner after a major paper. The lady started to talk about the students bustling in the canteen, people who probably just had an exam paper, and lifted her plastic bag, 'i bought bread to eat, too many people.' We talked a bit about the crowd. Then the lift door opened and we parted ways. She never lost her smile.

I walked to where my friends were, still not able to figure out if she was an educator, a cleaner, or a spouse of someone working in the school.

And as i pondered about my encounter with her, i am led to think about what it will be like when i reach the gates of heaven. Will Jesus stand there, arms outstretched, smiling like the lady did-- as though He knew me? Will He say, 'hello, ros! I have been waiting for you, let me show you to the room I have prepared for you.'?

I sure hope He will! :)