AS IF BY MAGIC

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While I have decided to hold off joining Gideons International for the time being, I have been sharing their small New Testaments with store clerks, cashiers, bagboys, waitresses, and others for several weeks.

Sometimes I simply say, 

"Let me give you a little gift."

And sometimes I say,

"I have a small book for you."

And once I made the comment,

"My elementary teacher gave me a little volume... 70 years ago. I have one very much like it here. I want you to have it."

And without an exception, each and every man and woman among them have said, "Thank you." 

A couple of times I left one of the testaments on a counter or book rack. I recall leaving one on a pavilion table at a beach park. Another time on the counter at my local post office.

However, yesterday I put a decided spin on my distribution of the small spiritual volume.

For you see, I had driven up to a nearby Publix Supermarket to pick up something for supper, pulled into a parking place, grabbed a New Testament from a plastic bag on the floor, and stuffed it into my left front pocket.

It was then that I noticed the man.

A fellow wearing a Terminix uniform was unloading several bags of groceries into his company truck. He had apparently stopped to buy a few things on his way home from work. And it was then that I decided to bequeath a copy of THE book to this young man.

Now, I walked down the sidewalk which bordered the north side of the supermarket. And now, I passed behind the truck. (The exterminator was still standing by the passenger side of his vehicle). Suddenly, I reached into my pocket, grabbed the precious little volume, laid it in the child seat, and continued my trek to the supermarket door.

Whereas I assumed the young fellow would relocate the buggy closer to the store wall, or push it back into the store, and discover the book, (as if it appeared by magic), it could not help but be discovered by someone in short order.

One of the more novel approaches I have used in my attempt to distribute the Word of God.

by Bill McDonald, PhD