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 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 ministr y 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.

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!"

I asked the Lord to bless you
as I prayed for you today.
To guide you and protect you
as you go along your way....
His love is always with you,
His promises are true,
And when we give Him all our cares,
You know He will see us through.

Kat

A Beautiful Story

Evidently the old deacon had forgotten what church was about and had a
good time with Bill.

From:
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2001/09/0907_smithgenlee_2.html
---------------------------------------------------------------
One Sunday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Richmond, a well-dressed,
lone black man, whom no one in the community—white or black—had ever
seen before, had attended the service, sitting unnoticed in the last
pew.

Just before communion was to be distributed, he rose and proudly walked
down the center aisle through the middle of the church where all could
see him and approached the communion rail, where he knelt. The priest
and the congregation were completely aghast and in total shock.

No one knew what to do...except General Lee. He went to the communion
rail and knelt beside the black man and they received communion
together—and then a steady flow of other church members followed the
example he had set.

After the service was over, the black man was never to be seen in
Richmond again. It was as if he had been sent down from a higher place
purposefully for that particular occasion.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Very Nice

RT, what do you mean? "what church is all about"? Churches are not
created equal.
The moral of the story was: treat others as you would want to be treated
and, though we are different, we are still the same. Love is the key. It
only takes one to make a difference.
Kat

I made a typographical error. It happens when I don't proofread.

I thought about correcting it but remembered when I have had a good time
praying with another.

I think love and worship of our Lord was what the story was about and
that we should all worship together. Don't judge anyone, and even
moreso, someone who is worshipping the Lord.

Oh yeah, those kind of elders are few in number and that is atragedy,
but never the less, God will prevail!!

I am just glad the old deacon was there. I have been to churches where I
didn't feel like I belonged but went anyway. I went to this all black
church by mistake. We were just checking out the different churches in
the neighborhood. I had the same feeling when I went to I went to a Gay
Narcotics Anonymous meeting. I thought I was intruding in both. I was
welcomed into both. It was quite a revelation for me. It is something
when one is sure something will turn out a certain way but surprised
when the opposite happens. I kept looking for a bouncer but none showed
up.

Yeah, you know what they say about when you assume!! LOL

In the last few years I have traveled many a mile, in each instance it
seems someone sat with me. I can't say I saw who it was every time,but
rest assured someone will always sit beside me when I am seeking a
friend.

Thank you for this story.



G

I loved this story. I also liked the one that spider posted. These are
lessons in our own humanity.
Kat

Thank you Kat, Spider.

Lovely stories of humanity.

I see Bill in the story as an emissary or an ambassador from the college
to the church. Since he was accepted as he was the chances is that he
will give a good report back to the college. He could of been just
testing the water so to speak. There is a lot that could be read into
the story. I see a standards issue or a dress code mentioned. Since the
church wants to develop a ministry and not sure how to go about it the
acceptance of Bill might be a first step. Personally, if I was the
church I would negotiate with Bill.

Those were both really great and so true.If more could learn from that
it would be wonderful.