Monday, May 31, 2010

Muddy Knees


Flickr photo by mcmrbt, creative commons
As I remember it, she was around 19 or 20, about my age at the time, and as she led us through the military cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer, France, past the thousands of crosses to my grandfather's grave, I sort of wished she'd just hand over the map and let us find it by ourselves.

First of all, there was the awkwardness of the language barrier. (Life would bring me back to France for mongo lessons on this later. Did it ever.) She spoke English but so quietly and with such a heavy accent that we could hardly understand her.
But mainly I was concerned about my mom. This would be the first time since she was a bouncing baby that she'd be mere feet from her father's body, now bones and dust under the lush, green grass, and I didn't want her to have to think about keeping her composure just because a stranger was there.

Will she cry?
I wondered. Of course she will. In my dream the night before, she'd lain face down over her father's grave, and when the camera shifted to a cross section scene, I could see my mother lying over her father, and five feet below, his face looking up at hers through the soil.

Would I cry? Would my brother or my dad? I walked faster, hoping to get Dad's attention and maybe signal him to take the map and send the girl back. But he was too busy looking at Mom and I couldn't catch his eye.

It started to drizzle and I hoped that maybe now she'd go back, hand us umbrellas and let us go on our own. But no. She walked on, ignoring the weather, carrying the bucket of wet sand that she'd taken time to get before we started out. Couldn't that chore, whatever it was, have waited? I shivered in the wind, glad to have my jacket, and noticed her bare legs.

Finally, there it was, my grandfather's cross. My father inched closer to my mother, who stood still, transfixed by the name. Now she'll leave, I thought, but instead, she knelt before the cross, her bare knees sinking in the wet ground. What? She dipped her hand into the bucket, pulled out a clump of wet sand, and begin smearing it all over the cross!
Wasn't my father going to do something? The cross had been beautiful, and now it was a terrible mess.
Before I could say anything to my dad, the girl picked up a clean cloth, and with slow deliberate strokes, wiped it clean. Gleaming white, except now Glen Kuhn's name stood out in bold brown letters. The cross had been just one of thousands, and now it proclaimed my grandfather's service, for all to see.

As I tried to catch my breath, the girl rose, her knees muddied. She thanked my mother for her father's service and left us to be alone.

I've thought of that girl so many times over the last twenty five years. I've remembered how she gathered her skirt and knelt on the wet ground, how she stroked the cross so reverently, how she honored my grandfather and then honored our privacy. She wouldn't let the awkwardness of a language barrier stand in the way of her focus on our family. Maybe it was her job, but she did it as if it were more than that, as if it were a holy mission.

This French stranger became a model for me of what it means to be a servant: to show up, put away any concerns or thoughts of yourself, and be willing to sink your knees in the mud for someone who needs it.

I picture her, and another servant comes to mind, kneeling before his friends, washing their feet, saying,
"I, your Lord and Teacher, have just washed your feet. You, then, should wash one another's feet. I have set an example for you, so that you will do just what I have done for you. ...Now that you know this truth, how happy you will be if you put it into practice!"
John 13: 14-15, 17

Today I'm wondering who has muddied their knees for you. I'd love to hear about the servanthood you've experienced in your life. I hope you'll share!

Love, Becky

13 comments:

Natalie, the Chickenblogger said...

Thank you Becky. You put my heart and thoughts in alignment for this important day. I will reflect on your story, your question, and my gratitude.

Susan said...

Becky, thank you so much. This was such a beautiful post. God always puts people in our lives for a reason, His reason. Thanks again.

Anonymous said...

I love those verses; I once wrote a whole short story that revolved around them. It's never been published because I still don't have it quite right.

It's clear from your Meals on Wheels work that service is very much part of your life.

Jenn Hubbard
(Anon today because of OpenID error)

Cathy ~ Tadpoles and Teacups said...

Rebecca,
This is such a moving tribute.
Thanks so much for sharing your family's story.
Blessings~

Cathy

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Thank you, Natalie. I hope your day has been a good one.

Susan, when I saw the photo on your post today, I could hardly believe it. It could be an illustration for the dream I had about my mom at the cemetery. Stunning.

Hey Jenn. I love those verses too and would love to one day read that story. The foot washing scene has always fascinated me...partly because I think it's odd that Matthew, Mark, and Luke never even mentioned it, focusing on the bread and the wine, while it clearly made a big impression on John. The verses also interest me because I once took part in a foot washing ritual on a retreat (either youth or college, I can't remember) and found it INCREDIBLY awkward and uncomfortable and humbling. I could hardly stand someone doing that for me and wanted to run away and hide in the bathroom--I can't imagine how it would be for Jesus to be the one doing the washing!

And as for the Meals on Wheels, honestly (and I mean it) it really doesn't feel like service AT ALL. The clients are serving me by allowing me to deliver to them. Anyone who's ever done it would say the same thing. It's a real treat just to show up and get to play Meal Santa.

Hi Cathy, thanks for your tribute as well. It's a great day for remembering.

Kat said...

What a beautiful, beautiful story. Thank you so much for sharing it with us. I know it is something I will think about again and again.
Beautiful.

Michelle DeRusha said...

This is gorgeous writing and an incredibly moving story. Thank you.

Adrienne said...

What a lovely story - that image will stay with me. Thank you.

Fete et Fleur said...

Words fail me at this story. What a wonderful memory to carry.

Who has muddied their knees for me? The person who comes instantly comes to mind, is my Mother.

Nancy

Laura said...

What a beautiful memory.

Vagabonde said...

This is such a special story. I can well imagine you in the cemetery in Normandie in a cool day. Les moments importants de notre passé restent en nous.

Angie Muresan said...

I am sorry, but I cannot stop staring at your gorgeous photo, above your 'About Me' link, to pay attention to the muddy knees.

Rebecca Ramsey said...

Hey y'all, thank you for your comments. I think stories of servanthood resonate because we've all experienced them. :)