|
|
|
|
HIS NAME IS
JOHN |
|
|
|
|
|
|
His name is John. 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 college 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, John
decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his
T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started, so
John starts down the aisle looking for a seat in the already
filled church. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable,
but no one says anything. As John gets closer to the pulpit, he
realizes there are no seats, so he just sits down on the
carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable behavior at a college
fellowship, trust me, this had never happened in this church
before!)
By now the congregation is 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 John. Now the deacon is in his
eighties, has silver-gray hair, is wearing 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 toward this
boy, everyone is saying to themselves, “You can’t blame him for
what he’s about to do. How can you expect a man of his age and
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.
People are thinking, “The minister can’t even preach the sermon
until the deacon does what he has to do.”
Now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor. With great
difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to John to
worship 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.” |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
