Re: religious story called to meet such a man but worth the read

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From: Jeff <inmissouri2003@...>Subject: religious story called to meet such a man but worth the read Date: Friday, November 28, 2008, 6:11 AM

This is kind of long, but it is worth reading even if you do not go tochurch or believe in God. Please pass it on.Thank you,JeffTO MEET SUCH A MANI sat, with two friends, in the picture window of a quaintrestaurant just off the corner of the town-square. The food and thecompany were both especially good that day. As we talked, my attention was drawn outside, across the streetThere, walking into town, was a man who appeared to be carrying allhis worldly goods on his back. He was carrying, a well-worn sign thatread, 'I will work for food.' My heart sank. I brought him to the attention of my friends and noticed thatothers around us had stopped eating to focus on him. Heads moved in amixture of sadness and disbelief.We continued with our meal, but his image lingered in my mind. Wefinished our meal and went our separate ways. I had errands to do andquickly set out

to accomplish them. I glanced toward the town square,looking somewhat halfheartedly for the strange visitor. I was fearful,knowing that seeing him again would call some response. I drovethrough town and saw nothing of him. I made some purchases at a storeand got back in my car. Deep within me, the Spirit of God kept speaking to me: 'Don't goback to the office until you've at least driven once more around thesquare.'Then with some hesitancy, I headed back into town. As I turned thesquare's third corner, I saw him. He was standing on the steps of thestore front church, going through his sack. I stopped and looked; feeling both compelled to speak to him, yetwanting to drive on. The empty parking space on the corner seemed tobe a sign from God: an invitation to park. I pulled in, got out andapproached the town's newest visitor. 'Looking for the pastor?' I asked.'Not really,'

he replied, 'just resting.''Have you eaten today?''Oh, I ate something early this morning.' 'Would you like to have lunch with me?''Do you have some work I could do for you?''No work,' I replied. 'I commute here to work from the city, but Iwould like to take you to lunch.' 'Sure,' he replied with a smile.As he began to gather his things, I asked some surface questions.Where you headed?'' St. Louis .''Where you from?''Oh, all over; mostly Florida .' 'How long you been walking?''Fourteen years,' came the reply.I knew I had met someone unusual. We sat across from each other inthe same restaurant I had left earlier His face was weathered slightlybeyond his 38 years. His eyes were dark yet clear, and he spoke withan eloquence and articulation that was startling. He removed hisjacket to reveal a bright red T-shirt that said, 'Jesus

is The NeverEnding Story.' Then 's story began to unfold. He had seen rough times earlyin life. He'd made some wrong choices and reaped the consequences.Fourteen years earlier, while backpacking across the country, he hadstopped on the beach in Daytona. He tried to hire on with some men whowere putting up a large tent and some equipment. A concert, he thought. He was hired, but the tent would not house a concert but revivalservices, and in those services he saw life more clearly. He gave hislife over to God'Nothing's been the same since,' he said, 'I felt the Lord tellingme to keep walking, and so I did, some 14 years now.' 'Ever think of stopping?' I asked.'Oh, once in a while, when it seems to get the best of me But Godhas given me this calling. I give out Bibles. That's what's in mysack. I work to buy food and Bibles, and I give them out when HisSpirit leads.'

I sat amazed. My homeless friend was not homeless. He was on amission and lived this way by choice. The question burned inside for amoment and then I asked: 'What's it like?''What?' 'To walk into a town carrying all your things on your back and toshow your sign?''Oh, it was humiliating at first. People would stare and makecomments. Once someone tossed a piece of half-eaten bread and made agesture that certainly didn't make me feel welcome. But then it becamehumbling to realize that God was using me to touch lives and changepeople's concepts of other folks like me.' My concept was changing, too. We finished our dessert and gatheredhis things. Just outside the door, he paused. He turned to me andsaid, 'Come Ye blessed of my Father and inherit the kingdom I'veprepared for you. For when I was hungry you gave me food, when I wasthirsty you gave me drink, a stranger and you

took me in.' I felt as if we were on holy ground. 'Could you use anotherBible?' I asked.He said he preferred a certain translation. It traveled well andwas not too heavy. It was also his personal favorite. 'I've readthrough it 14 times,' he said. 'I'm not sure we've got one of those, but let's stop by our churchand see' I was able to find my new friend a Bible that would do well,and he seemed very grateful.'Where are you headed from here?' I asked. 'Well, I found this little map on the back of this amusement parkcoupon.''Are you hoping to hire on there for awhile?''No, I just figure I should go there. I figure someone under thatstar right there needs a Bible, so that's where I'm going next.' He smiled, and the warmth of his spirit radiated the sincerity ofhis mission. I drove him back to the town-square where we'd met twohours earlier, and as we drove, it

started raining. We parked andunloaded his things. 'Would you sign my autograph book?' he asked. 'I like to keepmessages from folks I meet.' I wrote in his little book that his commitment to his calling hadtouched my life. I encouraged him to stay strong. And I left him witha verse of scripture from , 'I know the plans I have for you,declared the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you; Plans togive you a future and a hope.' 'Thanks, man,' he said. 'I know we just met and we're really juststrangers, but I love you.''I know,' I said, 'I love you, too.' 'The Lord is good!''Yes, He is. How long has it been since someone hugged you?' I asked.'A long time,' he repliedAnd so on the busy street corner in the drizzling rain, my newfriend and I embraced, and I felt deep inside that I had been changed.He put his things on his back, smiled his winning smile

and said, 'Seeyou in the New Jerusalem.' 'I'll be there!' was my reply.He began his journey again He headed away with his sign danglingfrom his bedroll and pack of Bibles He stopped, turned and said, 'Whenyou see something that makes you think of me, will you pray for me?' 'You bet,' I shouted back, 'God bless.''God bless.' And that was the last I saw of him.Late that evening as I left my office, the wind blew strong. Thecold front had settled hard upon the town. I bundled up and hurried tomy car. As I sat back and reached for the emergency brake, I sawthem... a pair of well-worn brown work gloves neatly laid over thelength of the handle. I picked them up and thought of my friend andwondered if his hands would stay warm that night without them. Then I remembered his words: 'If you see something that makes youthink of me, will you pray for me?'Today his gloves lie

on my desk in my office. They help me to seethe world and its people in a new way, and they help me remember thosetwo hours with my unique friend and to pray for his ministry. 'See youin the New Jerusalem,' he said. Yes, , I know I will... If this story touched you, forward it to a friend!'I shall pass this way but once. Therefore, any good that I can door any kindness that I can show, let me do it now, for I shall notpass this way again.' My instructions were to send this to four people that I wanted Godto bless and I picked you. Please pass this to four people you want tobe blessed.This prayer is powerful and there is nothing attached. Please donot break this pattern. Prayer is one of the best gifts we receive.There is no cost but a lot of rewards. Let's continue to pray for oneanother. God bless and have a nice day! 'Father, I ask you to bless my friends, relatives

and e-mailbuddies reading this right now. Show them a new revelation of yourlove and power. Holy Spirit, I ask you to minister to their spirit atthis very moment. Where there is pain, give them your peace and mercy.Where there is self-doubt, release a renewed confidence through yourgrace, In Jesus' precious Name Amen.' I sent this to more than four, but this story is so touching Ifelt each of you would enjoy it greatly.GOD BLESS YOU MY FRIENDS AND FAMILY!!!