Posted by feel on January 24, 2000 at 09:42:34:
This will certainly make you stop and think. You never know
what a kind word, a phone call, or an impromptu visit will do for
someone else.
It was a cold winter's day that Sunday. The parking lot to the
church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car
that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they
walked to the church. As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against
the wall outside the church. He was almost laying down as if he was
asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a
hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face.
He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all
over them, his toes stuck out. I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep,
so I walked on by through the doors of the church. We all had fellowship for
a few minutes, and someone brought up the man laying outside. People
snickered and gossiped but no one bothered
to ask him to come in, including me. A few moments later church began. We
all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the
Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man
walking down the aisle with his head down. People gasped and whispered
and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit he
took off his hat and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher...he was
the "homeless man." No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and
laid it on the stand. "Folks, I don't think I have to tell you
what I am preaching about today." Then he started singing the words
to this song. "If I can help somebody as I pass along. If I can
cheer somebody with a word or song. If I can show somebody that he's
traveling wrong. Then my living shall not be in vain."
....
Justice - When you get what you deserve
Mercy - When you don't get what you deserve
Grace - When you get what you don't deserve