The garden of rocks

I was in the Canary Islands a few years ago, in Tenerife, to be exact, staying in a small hotel with a window facing the square. If I leaned out and looked left, I could see the water and cruise ships in the distance. The first morning I was there, I opened the window to say hello to the day, then went downstairs to see what was for breakfast. When I went into the restaurant, I noticed a young man checking out the small buffet, looking anxious and nervous. He had his plate and went from one thing to another, not picking anything; his mannerisms were agitated. I thought to myself, "bless him, he is either high or mentally ill," and served myself toast or whatever it was (I can't remember.) He looked at me, and our eyes met. He asked immediately, "are you having breakfast alone?" "I am," I replied. "May I join you?" "Of course."  He sat down in front of me, and I looked into the bluest eyes I had ever seen. His hair was a mess as if he had rolled around restlessly all night on his pillow; he seemed so tense. I tried to small-talk, but his answers didn't make much sense. His name was Daniel, and I surmised that he was from northern Europe somewhere, but I asked him, "Daniel, where are you from?"  He paused and looked at me and, smiling slowly, said, "I am from a garden of stones."  And he stared, waiting for my reaction, then asked, "And where are you from?"

      I reached out to him with all the love I could express, "Daniel, I am from a different place. I am from the garden of LIFE and would love to take you there."  I tried to share the Gospel with him, but his mind was who-knows-where. He couldn't concentrate on what I was saying; he had a far-off look in those blue eyes and got up before finishing breakfast and said goodbye. When I got up to my room, I looked out onto the square again. I saw him down there, walking here and there, and nowhere. I think of him sometimes when I see a young northern European man walking alone in Spain and ask myself where Daniel is. I hope he met someone who could introduce him to the ONE that could lead him to green pastures and out of the garden of stones.