The Lesson of
the Homeless Man
الاثنين, 11 اغسطس, 2008
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 fellow church members were
whispering among themselves as they walked in the church.
As
I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was
almost lying 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 lying
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 where 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 his stand.
"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today.
If you judge people, you have no time to love them
