The college I attended as a young man was a collection of beautiful, red
brick buildings built along the side of a hill. At the bottom of the
hill was the closest town. Getting back to the dorms from town during
the cold, Winter months was a treacherous trip even for the sober
students.
For those who had been drinking at the town bars it
often led to many slips and falls as they stumbled up the slick
sidewalks
On one December day a friend and I were debating going
into town to grab a bite to eat at the local convenience store. We
didn't like the idea of walking downhill on a sheet of ice, but the
dinner at the cafeteria that day had left a lot to be desired. Finally,
we decided to head down and grab some sandwiches and sodas. We gingerly
made our way and after about ten minutes got to the bottom of the hill.
As we walked towards the store a shivering man approached us. His
clothes were worn and dirty. His gray hair was wild and unruly. His face
was unshaven. He didn't have a lot of teeth left either. He smelt
strongly of sour liquor. When he got close he stopped and seemed a bit
ashamed of what he was about to say but finally he asked for a few
dollars to get something to eat. I stepped back at first and all of the
warnings that I had heard others say against people like him played in
my mind. Yet, when I looked into his sad eyes I felt a warmth in my
heart. I pulled out my wallet and gave him the money.
As we
walked on my friend said that the man was probably going to spend that
money on alcohol. I thought about it then said, "What he does with the
money is his choice. Sharing it was mine."
I have looked back
on that memory so many times over the years. If I had it to do all over
again I think that I would have talked to the man longer, gave him more
money, and maybe shared a hug with him as well. Even to this day some 30
years later I keep that man in my prayers.
I pray that he found
his way back to health, back to a home, and back to God.
We all
come into this world from LOVE and when we leave it we will return to
LOVE.
Whether we love while we are here, however, is up to us.
What is your choice going to be? Are you going to live by the rules of
the world or the rules of Heaven? Are you going to help just yourself or
are you going to help others as well? Are you going to let fear rule you
or are you going to love others as God loves you? It is up to you!
Up to You
Today's Bible Verse:
"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest
of these is love." (1Cor 13:13)
Up to You
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