in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe
for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant,
kinda esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian
while attending college.
Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very
conserverative church. They want to develop a ministry to
the students, but are not sure how to go about it.
One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes,
a pair of jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has
already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking
for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can't
find a seat. By now people are looking a bit uncomfortable,
but no one says anything.
Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit and
when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down
right there on the carpet. (Although perfectly acceptable
behavior at a college fellowship, trust me, this had never
happened in this church before!) By now the people are really
uptight, and the tension in the air is thick.
About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the
back of the church, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Bill.
Now the deacon is in his eighties, has sliver-gray hair,
a three-piece suit, and a pocket watch. A godly man, very
elegant, very dignified, very courtly.
He walks with a cane and as he starts walking toward this boy,
everyone is saying to themselves, "You can't blame him for what
he's going to do. How can you expect a man of his age and of
his background to understand some college kid on the floor?"
It takes a long time for the man to reach the boy. The church is
utterly silent except for the clicking of the man's cane.
All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyone breathing.
The people are thinking, "The minister can't even preach the
sermon until the deacon does what he has to do".
And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the floor.
With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to
Bill and worships with him so he won't be alone.
Everyone chokes up with emotion.
When the minister gains control he says, " What I'm about to
preach, you will never remember.
What you have just seen, you will never forget."