THE STRANGER

THE STRANGER

The congregation was sparse on this particular Sunday morning. As the rain beat hard against the stained glass windows, the heat automatically came on inside. The many lights high overhead began to flicker and go off and on.

The choir had just finished singing an anthem when the Minister announced a change in the program. He said he had invited a person with whom he had spoken with at length to address our service. We all wondered who it could be!

After the offering was received and blessed, we settled inside the warm sanctuary to listen to the invited guest.

He schuffled to the pulpit as we all stared in awe at his threadbare jacket and blue jeans. His hair was short and white and he had a blue bandana tied around his neck. His faded jacket once had been trimmed with fringe and gave him the look of an old cowpoke.

He didn't need a microphone. His voice was loud and strong and could be heard miles away. The first words out of his mouth were "Jesus loves me."

We all sat and watched as he stood to speak. This is what he said:

"I reckon you're all wondering
What brought me in here
You can't tell that I'm poor
And just drank my last beer;
Folks like you hate folks like me
I know cuz I've been both
Right now I need a cigarette
To hang out of my mouth."

Well, we didn't know what to say
Or if we should even grin
But he wore a wide smile
It looked so good on him;
"I ain't much of a singer
But sinning suits me fine
Jesus loves me, this I know
This coat ain't even mine."

"I 'borrowed' it from Frenchies
'Today 'twas cold in there
I spent my last few dollars
To pay a girl to cut my hair;
If I eat that's good and if I don't
I know I'll be all right
'Cuz I know He'll find for me
A bite to eat tonight."

The congregation sat in silence
And did not move at all
The Minister sat with his wife
Longed face, against the wall;
The guest smiled at the crowd
As his voice began to sing
Never, ever have we heard
A voice like that again!

He sang "Jesus loves me"
Sweet and strong and true
There wasn't any organ
Every verse he knew;
He sang for his supper
As God would want us to
Help this stranger passing by
Like He would me and you.

We all went for refreshments
To the kitchen downstairs
He refused to take the offering plate
But ate some pineapple squares;
The snow was softly falling
As he hitch-hiked out of town
And proudly hugged his only son
Who wears our Minister's gown.

After he had left, no-one spoke for a bit and then our Minister told us how his father had suddenly looked him up after a decade of no contact with any of their family. He couldn't convince him to stay.

We were headed home in our warm car when we saw the old man, thumb stuck out for a ride to somewhere in the opposite direction. I'm not sure but I thought he looked very content with his lot in life; only God and him would know.