BOB

His name was Bob.  He had wild hair and wore a T-shirt

with holes in it, jeans, and no shoes.  This was literally

his wardrobe for his entire four years of college, he was

brilliant, kind of esoteric, and very, very bright.  He

became a Christian recently while attending college.

Across the street from the campus was a church for

the well-dressed, & very conservative.  One day Bob

decided to go there.  He walked in with his T-shirt,

jeans, no shoes, and wild hair.  The service had already

started and so Bob started down the aisle looking for a

seat but the church was completely packed and none was

available.

By this time the people were looking a bit uncomfortable

but no one said anything.  Bob got closer and closer to

the pulpit and, when he realized there were no seats, he

just squatted down 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 were really uptight and the tension

was thick in the air, and the minister realized that,

from way at the back of the church, an Elder was slowly

making his way toward Bob. The Elder was in his

eighties, had silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit.  A

godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly.

He walked with a cane and, as he started walking toward

this boy, everyone said to themselves that 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 took a long time for the man to reach the boy.  The

church was utterly silent except for the clicking of the

man's cane.  All eyes were focused on him and you

couldn't even hear anyone breathing.  The minister

couldn't even preach the sermon until the Elder did what

he had to do.

Then they saw this elderly man drop his cane on the

floor.  With great difficulty he lowered himself and sat

down next to Bob and worshiped with him so he wouldn't

be alone.  Everyone choked up with emotion.

When the minister gained control, he says, "What I'm

about to preach, you will never remember.  What you

have seen, you will never forget.  Be careful how you

live.  You may be the only Bible some people will ever

read."

By Rebecca Manley Pippert

from Chicken Soup for the Christian Family Soul ~ Copyright 2000 by

Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen