Have You Met God?

February 5, 2023
 
Reflections From the Heart of Allan Redenius
There’s an old hymn that begins like this, “I heard an old, old story, how a Savior came from glory…”
There’s something about old hymns that have withstood the test of time.  Somehow, their words, in a familiar melody, touch us in a special way.
 
In case you haven’t figured it out by now, I love to tell stories.  Over my lifetime, I’ve met only two or three men who could spin a good story to make you cry, laugh, or scratch your head and wonder.  Here’s a short story I heard.  I wish I could tell you it was an original thought of mine…but it wasn’t.
 
One day a little boy decided to run away from home.  He packed a few Twinkies in his lunch box, along with two cans of pop.  As he walked along toward the city square, there sat an old man, obviously homeless.  The boy smiled at him and the old man smiled in return.  Eventually, the little boy, without saying a word, sat on the park bench by the old man.  The old man said not a word either.  The boy opened his lunch box and handed the old man one of his Twinkies and a can of pop.  They sat there together in silence as they ate.  By and by, the little boy closed up his lunch box, got off the bench, and began to walk away.  After a few steps, he stopped, turned around and went back to the old man and gave him a hug.  The old man smiled and the young boy went home.
 
When he got home and closed the front door, his Mom asked what he had done that day.  His reply was this.  “I met God.”  After a pause, the boy followed up with, “He’s older than I thought.”
 
Meanwhile, the homeless man returned to his shelter and at the communal supper table, someone asked of him, “What did you do today?”  The old man, once again with a smile on his face said, “I met God.  He’s a lot younger than I thought.”
 
I wonder how many times each one of us have met God unaware…..
 
Love to all,
Pastor Allan
 
©2023 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved