His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-Shirt with holes in it, jeans and
no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college.
He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian
while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church.
They want to develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go
about it. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans,
his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts
down the aisle looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't
find a seat.
By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill
gets closer and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he
just squats down right on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at
a college fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church before!)
By now the people are really uptight, and the tension in the air is thick. About
this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a
deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties,
has silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man-very
elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts
walking toward this boy, everyone is saying to themselves, You can't blame him
for what he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of his
background to understand some college kid on the floor? It takes a long time for
the man to reach the boy. The church is utterly silent except for the clicking
of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone
breathing. The people are thinking, The minister can't even preach the sermon
until the deacon does what he has to do.
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great
difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with him so
he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains
control he says, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember . . .What
you have just seen, You will never forget."
Author unknown. If anyone has a proprietary interest in this story please
authenticate and I will be happy to credit, or remove, as the circumstances
dictate.
Wit & Wisdom - June 23, 1998
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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