Homeless Man?
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 fellowshipped 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."
"IS YOUR LIVING IN VAIN?"