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 that fellow
church
members were whispering among themselves as they walked to the
church.
As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside
the
church. He was almost laying 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 fellowship for a few minutes, and someone brought up the
man
laying 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. 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 the
stand.
"Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I am preaching
about
today." Then he started singing the words to this song.
"If I can help somebody as I pass along. If I can cheer somebody
with a
word or song. If I can show somebody that he's traveling wrong.
Then my
living shall not be in vain."