Across the street from the campus is a well-dressed, very conservative church. They wantto develop a ministry to the students, but are not sure how to go about it. One day Billdecides to go there. He walks in with no shoes, jeans, his T-shirt, and wild hair. Theservice has already started and so Bill starts down the aisle looking for a seat. Thechurch is completely packed and he can't find a seat. By now people are looking a bituncomfortable, but no one says anything. Bill gets closer and closer and closer to thepulpit and 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 neverhappened in this church before!) By now the people are really uptight, and the tension inthe air is thick.

About this time, the minister realizes that from way at the back of the church, a deaconis slowly making his way toward Bill. Now the deacon is in his eighties, has silver-grayhair, 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 issaying to themselves, You can't blame him for what he's going to do. How can you expect aman 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 forthe clicking of the man's cane. All eyes are focused on him. You can't even hear anyonebreathing. The people are thinking. The minister can't even preach the sermon until thedeacon does what he has to do. And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on thefloor.

With great difficulty he lowers himself and sits down next to Bill and worships with himso he won't be alone. Everyone chokes up with emotion. When the minister gains control hesays, "What I'm about to preach, you will never remember. What you have just seen,you will never forget."

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