I haven't posted in long while. Generally, I am moved by an event or something I hear or read and I have an opinion to write. I have had quite a dry spell lately and time has just been limited.
The other day I received an email that caused a stirring deep in my soul. I had to look inward and be honest about how I might respond in this situation. I am going to reprint it here but don't know where it originated so if you are the author let me know and I will give you credit.
If you have read it before, then let the Spirit stir in you once again. If you have never read this, then I suggest you get some tissue before beginning.
"The Living Bible"
His name is Tom. 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 profound 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 Tom decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his
T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Tom 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.
Tom 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.
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 Tom .
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 thisboy, 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 Tom 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!'
That last phrase reminds me of a chorus to a song I sing ever so often:
"'Cause you're the only Jesus some will ever see. And you're the only words of life some will ever read. So let them see in you the one in whom is all they'll ever need. You're the only Jesus, some will ever see".
