Worth Thinking About Again

The following story has often been told.  I do not know it to be true.  But it illustrates some concepts worth remembering.  How many things do you glean from it?

Bill 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.  Somewhat esoteric and very, very bright, Bill 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.  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 and closer to the pulpit and when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet.  (Although this is perfectly acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, it 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.  Very elegant, very dignified, very courtly, indeed, the very image of a Godly man, the deacon walks with a cane.  As he approaches, walking toward this boy, everyone is excusing him silently cheering him on.  After all, 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 deacon's cane.  All eyes are focused on him.  You can't even hear anyone breathing.  The people are thinking.  Even if the preacher could compose his text, no one would hear him until the deacon has done what he has to do.

In silence they watch this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill 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 may never remember.  What you have just seen, you should never forget."

His, thus yours,

Stuart