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, somewhat esoteric, and 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 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 and so John starts down the aisle
looking for a seat. The church is completely packed
and he can't find a seat. By now the people are looking
a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. John gets
closer and when he realizes there are are no seats, he
just squats right down on the carpet. (Although perfectly
acceptable behavior at a college fellowship, this had
never happened in this church before!) 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 John. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has
silver-gray hair, a three-piece suit, and a pocketwatch. 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, "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 can. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear
anyone breathing. The people are thinking, "The minister
can't even preach his 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 John 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."
Author unknown
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