Shoes in Church ~~~ Schuhe in den Gemeinden

A friend of ours send me 'Shoes in Church' per email (I don't know from where she got it from or who wrote it, but I hope the person doesn't mind, me sharing it), leave me a comment and tell me what you think ....

Shoes in Church

I showered and shaved.............. I adjusted my tie.
I got there and sat.............. In a pew just in time.

Bowing my head in prayer......... As I closed my eyes.....

I saw the shoe of the man next to me..... Touching my own. I sighed.

With plenty of room on either side..... I thought, 'Why must our soles touch?'

It bothered me, his shoe touching mine... But it didn't bother him much.

A prayer began: 'Our Father'............. I thought, 'This man with the shoes, has no pride. They're dusty, worn, and scratched. Even worse, there are 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 was ended........... And the songs of praise began.

The shoe man was certainly loud..... Sounding proud as he sang.
His voice lifted the rafters........ His hands were raised high.
The Lord could surely hear. The shoe man's voice from the sky.
It was time for the offering...... And what I threw in was steep.

I watched as the shoe man reached.... Into his pockets so deep.
I saw what was pulled out............ What the shoe man put in.
Then I heard a soft 'clink' . As when silver hits tin.

The sermon really bored me............ To tears, and that's no lie.
It was the same for the shoe man.... For tears fell from his eyes.
At the end of the service...... As is the custom here.

We must greet new visitors, And show them all good cheer.
But I felt moved somehow.............. And wanted to meet the shoe man.
So after the closing prayer........ I reached over and shook his hand.

He was old and his skin was dark.... And his hair was truly a mess.
But I thanked him for coming......... For being our guest.

He said, 'My names' Charlie........... I'm glad to meet you, my friend.'
There were tears in his eyes........ But he had a large, wide grin.
'Let me explain,' he said.......... Wiping tears from his eyes.

'I've been coming here for months.... And you're the first to say 'Hi.''
'I know that my appearance............'Is not like all the rest.
'But I really do try.................'To always look my best.'
'I always clean and polish my shoes..'Before my very long walk.
'But by the time I get here..........'They're dirty and dusty, like chalk.'

My heart filled with pain.......... And I swallowed to hide my tears.
As he continued to apologize.......... For daring to sit so near
He said, 'When I get here..............'I know I must look a sight.
'But I thought if I could touch you..'Then maybe our souls might unite.'

I was silent for a moment........... Knowing whatever was said

Would pale in comparison... I spoke from my heart, not my head.

'Oh, you've touched me,' I said......'And taught me, in part;
'That the best of any man...............'Is what is found in his heart.'
The rest, I thought,..................... This shoe man will never know.
Like just how thankful I really am... That his dirty old shoe touched my soul !

After I finished reading, I found it was very appropriate for me and I was touched, so I wrote back to her:

"Wow, what a powerful message. Yes, isn't that how we often feel. Or at least I do, especially the last few days, everything seems to bore me ....

Did you ever hear the story of the man who spoke in church, he was a guest speaker and had an old looking suit on. When he was speaking he was always wiping his mouth, because his saliva dripped down. One of the people watching and listening to him was discusted.

After his preaching the guest speaker said: Sorry, that I have to wip my mouth every minute, I can't help, this happend when I was preaching in the streets of China and people did not like that I shared the gospel, so they beat me and jumped on my throat a few times, since then I can not control my saliva anymore. And the suite, poor people in China have sewn it for me by hand, because they wanted that I look best, when I come to visit you.

I hope I told the story right. I've never forgotten this story after I read it. A while ago the pastor in church told the same story.

The story you sent me reminds me a lot of the story I have shared above. It shows and reveals my attitude: how proud I am.
God change my heart, this is my prayer."