Thought Starter

"It was a cold winter Sunday; the church parking lot was filling up quickly. Jake noticed, as he got out of his car, that fellow parishioners were whispering and pointing among themselves. As Jake got closer, he saw a man leaning against the church's wall, apparently asleep, or drunk

The man wore a long trench coat that was in tatters. His hat was pulled down low concealing his face. His shoes were past well-worn with holes where his toes poked through. Jake assumed he was another street person, so he walked past him and entered the church.

A group had gathered in the back of the church discussing the man leaning against the church wall. Several people snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to check on his condition; then the opening cords of the entrance song began to play.

After the celebrant proclaimed the Gospel, the doors of the church clanged open. The street person entered lurching down the center aisle with his head down. Parishioners gasped and whispered, as he made his way into the sanctuary heading straight for the pulpit, whereon he removed his coat and hat.

The gasps crescendoed, there stood the pastor. The pastor was the street person. No one uttered a word during a long pause.The pastor reached for this Bible and placed it on the pulpit. 'Folks, I don't think I have to tell you what I planned to preach about today. How often have you turned a deaf ear, or a blind eye, to the needs or plights of others because you disregard their humble circumstances? But if you show considerateness to the least of these it is as if you are doing it for Christ.'" - Source Unknown