His name was Bill. He was in his early twenties and had
wild hair, and he wore a T-shirt with holes in it, blue
jeans, and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his
entire four years of college. He was a brilliant student,
but kind of esoteric. A very, very bright young man. He
became a Christian while attending college.
Across the street from the campus was a church with a very
well-dressed, very conservative congregation. They wanted to
develop a ministry to the students but were not sure how to
go about it.
One Sunday, Bill decided to go there. He walked in with no
shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service had
already started and Bill started down the aisle looking for
a seat. The church was completely packed and he couldn't
find a seat. By then, people were really looking a bit
uncomfortable, but no one said anything. Bill got closer and
closer to the pulpit, and when he realized there were no
seats, he just squatted down right on the carpet. By then
the people were really uptight, and the tension in the air
was thick.
About that time, the minister realized that from way at the
back of the church, a deacon was slowly making his way
toward Bill. Now the deacon was in his eighties and he had
silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A Godly man, very
elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walked with a
cane. As he started walking toward this
boy, everyone was saying to themselves that you can't blame
him for what he was doing to do. How could you expect a man
of his age and of his background to understand some college
kid sitting on the floor in church??
It took a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church
was utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's
cane. All eyes were focused on him. You couldn't even hear
anyone breathing. The minister couldn't even preach the
sermon until the deacon did what he had to do. And now they
saw this elderly man drop his cane on the
floor. With great difficulty, the old man lowered himself
and sat down next to Bill and worshipped with him so Bill
wouldn't be alone.
Everyone was choked up with emotion.
When the minister gained control, he said, "What I'm about
to preach - you will never remember. What you have just seen
- you will never forget. Be careful how you live. You may be
the only Bible some people will ever read."
