[preciousjeni]

(I don't want to take away from the power of the above post, but I would like to offer another moving story)

My pastor's wife told me this true story.

In California, there are large informal church gatherings. People from all walks of life and income-levels come together in worship. One Sunday, as the people were streaming into a church, they noticed a man, apparently homeless, who pretty much matched the description of the pastor's clothing in the above post. He was standing outside and watching the people go in.

The last few people made it into the church before the service. As the pastor was settling himself at the pulpit, the man came in with his tattered clothing, mussed up hair and shoeless feet. He walked straight down the center aisle and sat down in front of the preacher, looking up expectantly. A wave of whispers took over the congregation until an elder - a true elder who was in his 80s or 90s - stood up and made his way to the man. It seems the people were relieved that he would usher the unkempt man from the premises. They watched the elder as he got close enough to put his hand on the man's shoulder. The man looked up at him and the usher smiled. Then the usher took off his own shoes and sat down next to him.

I love this story and only hope that I could act in such a way that Jesus would be pleased, if this type of situation faced me.