His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes
in it, jeans and flip flops. This was literally his wardrobe for his four years of high school. He is brilliant. Kinda
odd in his worldview and perspective, but he is very, very bright. He became a
Christian during his junior year of high school when a fellow student shared
her faith with him.
Across
the street from the high school campus is a modern, conservative and active
church. They work hard to develop ministries to the students, but that process
is constantly changing and a challenge. One Sunday Bill decides to go visit the
church. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt and wild hair. The
service has just started so Bill starts down an aisle looking for a seat. The
church is pretty full, and Bill doesn't want to invade anyone's territory. As
he makes his way up the aisle, people are looking a bit uncomfortable, but no
one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer to the front, and rather than
bother anyone he just squats down on the carpet in front of the first row of
chairs and makes himself comfortable.
Because
this is so out of the norm, people who see Bill sitting up front on the floor are
increasingly uncomfortable. About the time Bill gets settled in, the Pastor
realizes that one of the Deacons who is sitting toward the back of the
auditorium has gotten up from his seat and is making his way toward the front,
and specifically toward Bill.
He's
a godly man, very dignified and respected, wearing a suit and tie as he walks
with his cane, his silver hair neatly combed and his Bible under his arm. You
can't blame him for what he is about to do. How can you expect a man of his age
and of his background to understand some barefoot teenage kid with long hair,
blue jeans and a T-shirt who has walked in and thinks it is somehow acceptable
to just sit on the floor in front of everyone?
It
takes what seems like a long time for the Deacon to reach the front where Bill
is seated. The church is completely silent except for the whispers in the
congregation. All eyes are focused on the front. Everyone is glad this one
senior adult Deacon has taken matters into his own hands. Even the Pastor is
frozen in the moment with mixed emotions and thoughts running through his mind
and heart.
Then,
suddenly God showed up. When this elderly Deacon gets to where Bill is seated,
he every slowly and carefully kneels down beside Bill, then lays his cane and
his Bible on the floor and sits down; to worship beside Bill so he won't be
sitting alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. The Deacon doesn't say a word,
he just gently reaches out his hand to shake Bill's. In that moment, although
nothing is said, much is communicated.
When
the Pastor is able to speak, he simply says,
"What
I am about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen, you
will never forget."
Sometimes it takes a Bill to help us focus and prioritize. Thank
God for the Bill's who will break the barrier, and a deacon who is filled with
the Holy Spirit to respond in obedience.
Oh, that our churches would fall in Love with Jesus Fresh and
Anew.
(Anonymous)
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