I was in Bruges yesterday, dipsydoodling among the cobbled streets and the green grass of parks.

Koningen Astridpark sat there on my Google Map, near the centrum.  Switching to “Photos”, one image stayed put in my mind.  It appeared to be a sculpture of a man lying on a park bench, hidden under a blanket.  But his feet!  There were nail holes.  It was Jesus.

Although I’m not a Christian, I see Jesus as a sublime spiritual teacher.  I wanted to find him.

Astridpark was small and lovely: big trees, lots of lawn, a pond with a sculpture in the middle, a gazebo and an awesome playground for the kids.  But no Jesus.

I asked a fellow who was walking his dog if he knew where Jesus was lying.  He didn’t.  “I’m not Catholic.”

I tried my friend AI to see what she had to say.  Et voilà:  There is a church called Heilige Magdalenakerk at the south end of the park.  And that’s where I’d find the bench, plus the sculpture titled “Homeless Jesus”.

AI told the truth:

I stood and stared.  I leaned forward and touched the hidden one’s head … and lingered for awhile.  I sat down in the empty space at Jesus’ feet and touched the nail holes.  I remained in place for half-an-hour or so.

The bench faced a busy intersection.  The flow of vehicles, cyclists and walkers.  A man and his son came by on their bicycles.  He had his hand on the boy’s shoulder the whole time as his joyous words disappeared into the air.

Minutes later, a woman was walking her large white and brown dog.  The dog had three legs … and so what?  She or he scampered over the cobblestones, not a care in their doggie world.

***

Jesus was pleased