bolex Enjoy Life while you can with No Regrets! - April 25, 2010 add/view comments (0)

Colleges and Universities

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THEM SHOES
>

>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 the rest of the day

>Would have been too much, so I`d go; I`d pray.

>

>I showered and shaved, adjusted suit and 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`s worse, there were holes on the side!



>Thank You for blessings," the prayer went 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

>When 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.

>He lifted the rafters; his hands raised high;

>The Lord surely heard his voice from the sky.

>

>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--And no lie--

>It was the same for the shoe man,

>For tears fell from his eyes.

>

>At the end of the service, as is custom here,

>Wemust greet the visitors and show them good cheer.

>But I was moved inside to want to meet this man,

>So after the closing, I shook his hand.

>

>He was old, his skin dark, his hair a mess.

>I thanked him for coming, for being our guest,

>He said, "My name`s Charlie, glad to meet you, my friend,"

>And there were tears in his eyes--but he had a wide grin.

>

>"Let me explain," he said, wiping his eyes.

>"I`ve been coming for months, and you`re 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 for sitting so near."

>"But I know 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!

>

>-- Author Unknown