Be Careful How You Live

His name is Bill. He has wild hair, wears a T-shirt with holes in it, jeans and no shoes. This was literally his wardrobe for his entire four years of college. He is brilliant. Kind of esoteric and very, very bright. He became a Christian recently while attending college.

Across the street from campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. One day Bill decides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Bill starts looking for a seat down the aisle.

The church is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are really a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, when he realizes there are no seats, he just squats down right 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, an Elder is slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the Elder is in his eighties, has silver-gray hair, and a three-piece suit. A godly man, very elegant, very dignified, very courtly. He walks with a cane and as he starts walking towards this boy, everyone is saying 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 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 minister can't even preach the sermon until the Elder 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. Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible people will ever read." As I reflect on this story, I am reminded of a similar experience I had in my own life, where a simple act of kindness from a stranger changed my perspective on faith and community. I recall attending a prayer meeting where a woman, despite her own struggles, took the time to listen to my concerns and offer words of encouragement. Her selflessness and compassion left a lasting impact on me, and I strive to emulate that same spirit of love and care in my own interactions with others. For instance, I was at a coffee shop recently and noticed an elderly woman sitting by herself, clearly upset. I took a moment to sit with her, listen to her story, and offer some words of comfort. As we parted ways, she smiled and said, "You're an angel sent from God." It was a small act, but it reminded me of the power of being present for others and living out our faith in everyday moments. This experience also made me think of a time when I visited a friend in the hospital, and as I was leaving, I met a nurse who was clearly exhausted, both physically and emotionally. I stopped to talk with her, and we ended up praying together in the hospital hallway. It was a brief moment, but one that I will never forget, and it reminded me that even in the simplest of interactions, we have the opportunity to be a reflection of God's love and care for those around us.