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My
alarm went off--it was Sunday again; I was tired--it was
my one day to sleep in. But the guilt I’d have felt for
the rest of the day, would have been far too much So I’d
go and I’d pray. I showered and shaved, adjusted my suit
& tie. Got there and swung into a pew just in time. Bowing
my head in humble prayer--before I closed my eyes, I saw
that the shoe of the man next to me was touching my own
and I sighed. With plenty of room on either side, I thought,
"Why do our soles have to touch?" It bothered me so; he
was glued to my shoe. But it didn’t seem to bother him
much. Then the prayer began "Heavenly Father." someone
said-- But I thought "Does this man with the shoes have
no pride?" They were dusty, worn, scratched end to end,
& what is worse they had holes on the side! "Thank you
for blessings," the prayer wen on. The shoe man said a
quiet "amen." I tried to focus on the prayer, But my thoughts
were on his shoes again. Aren’t we supposed to look our
best wen walking through that door? "Well this certainly
isn’t it," I thought, glancing toward the floor. Then
the prayer ended and songs of praise began. The shoe man
was loud, sounding proud as he sang. Then the offering
was passed; what I threw in was steep. The shoe man reached
into his pockets, so deep, And I tried to see what he
pulled out to put in, Then I heard a soft "clink," as
when silver hits tin. The sermon bored me to tears, no
lie-- And it was the same for the shoe man, tears fell
from his eyes. At the end of the service, as custom is
here, We must greet the visitors and show them good cheer.
But I was moved inside to meet this man, So after closing
I shook his hand. He was old, and his hair a mess. I thanked
him for coming & being our guest. He said "My name’s Charlie,
glad to meet you, my friend. Let me explain he said--
"I’ve been coming for months and your the first to say
"Hi." I know I don’t look like all the rest, but I always
try to look my best." I polish my shoes before my long
walk, But by the time I get here they’re as dirty as chalk."
My heart fell to my knees, but I held back my tears, He
continued, "And I must apologize to sitting so near."
"But I now when I get here, I must look a sight. And I
thought if I touched you our souls might unite." I was
silent for a moment knowing anything I said would pale
in comparison so I spoke from my heart not my head. "Oh,
you’ve touched me," I said. "And taught me in part, that
the best of a man is what’s in his heart." The rest, I
thought, this man will never know, how thankful I am that
he touched my soul!
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