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,
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 really 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 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, and a three-piece
suit. 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 that 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
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. Be careful how you live. You
may be the only Bible some people will ever read.
LORD help me to be as accepting of others as you are of me. You
accept me no matter how I am dressed or what I have done. Open my
heart to accept others as quickly and fully in Love! Lord forgive my
sins like I forgive other's sins against me. Help me to become more
like Christ. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.
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