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 fellowshipped 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."
