| Author | Message | ||
| Jwd Registered user Username: Jwd Post Number: 172 Registered: 4-2005  |
The Country Minister As a young minister, I was asked by a funeral director to hold a grave-side service for a homeless man, with no family or friends, who had died while traveling through the area. The funeral was to be held at a cemetery way back in the country, and this man would be the first to be laid to rest there. As I was not familiar with the backwoods area, I became lost; and being a typical man did not stop for directions. I finally arrived an hour late. I saw the backhoe and the crew, who was eating lunch, but the hearse was nowhere in sight. I apologized to the workers for my tardiness, and stepped to the side of the open grave, where I saw the vault lid already in place. I assured the workers I would not hold them long, but this was the proper thing to do. The workers gathered around, still eating their lunch! I poured out my heart and soul. As I preached the workers began to say "Amen," "Praise the Lord," and "Glory," I preached, and I preached, like I'd never preached before: from Genesis all the way to Revelations. I closed the lengthy service with a prayer and walked to my car. I felt I had done my duty for the homeless man and that the crew would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in spite of my tardiness. As I was opening the door and taking off my coat, I overheard one of the workers saying to another, "I ain't never seen anything like this before and I've been putting in septic tanks for twenty years." JWD | ||
| Colleentinker Registered user Username: Colleentinker Post Number: 3364 Registered: 12-2003  |
Ha! Thanks for making us smile, Jess! Colleen | ||
| Thomas1 Registered user Username: Thomas1 Post Number: 189 Registered: 4-2002  |
As long as we are on a roll ... Three boys are in the school yard bragging about their fathers. The first boy says, "My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a poem, they give him $50." The second boy says, "That's nothing. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a song, they give him $100." The third boy says, "I got you both beat. My Dad scribbles a few words on a piece of paper, he calls it a sermon, and it takes eight people to collect all the money!" | ||
| Randyg Registered user Username: Randyg Post Number: 106 Registered: 12-2004 |
Jess, Thank-you for the story. It is good to have you around again. Randy | ||
| Melissa Registered user Username: Melissa Post Number: 1280 Registered: 7-2003  |
Both of those were good stories. Thanks Thomas and Jess! | ||
| Dd Registered user Username: Dd Post Number: 635 Registered: 7-2004 |
Thomas - It is always good to see you here, too. You and JWD are always full of great warmth, insight and wisdom. Denise |
