The Living Bible

The living Bible. His name is Charles. He has wild hair, wears a T-Shirt, jeans with holes in it, and only casual slippers. This was literally how he walks about for days together. There are many, many young and old people like him on the streets. Across the street, there is a conservative church, where the worshipping community is well dressed and highly disciplined. One day Charles decides to go to this church. He walks in with slippers, jeans, his T-Shirt, and wild hair. The service has already started and so Charles starts down the aisle, looking for a seat. The church is completely packed and he can’t find a seat. By now, people are really looking a bit uncomfortable, but no one says anything. Charles gets closer and closer and closer to the pulpit, and when he realizes that there are no seats, he just squats down right on the carpet. 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, a deacon is slowly making his way toward Charles. The deacon, is in his eighties, had silver – gray hair and was wearing a three – piece suit. He is a godly man, very elegant, very dignified, and 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 a youngster, with unkempt hair and slippers, who walks and squats on the carpet, right in front of a dignified congregation ? 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 deacon does what he has to do. And now they see this elderly man drop his cane on the carpet. With great difficulty, he lowers himself and sits down next to Charles, and worships with him so that Charles 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.” He then added, “ Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some people will ever read!”