[BrotherLarry]

Today on my way home from a positively glorious church service, I saw a ragged, smelly man going through a trash can. The can was full of brightly colored wrapping paper, no doubt torn to shreds by some eager child on Christmas morn. I walked over to him and said,

"What once was beautiful now lies mangled at the hands of mankind, thrown aside without regard for its former loveliness." The man turned to me and said,

"Who are you? GET AWAY!!!! You got a quarter???"

I did not give the man a quarter, but rather I reminded him of God's gift to us, His Son, who was also torn to shreds and mangled by mankind, a bloody pulp of a man whose blue eyes and blonde hair had just radiated perfection a few short hours ago in the Garden of Gethsemane. Hanging on Cavalry Street in Jerusalem, pierced in the side, He was the Perfect Gift, and yet we toss Him aside even today.

I told the smelly beggar that he needed to get down on his knees that very moment. He said, "I am not like that."

I don't know what he meant, but since a cop was nearby I couldn't just shove him down on his knees, but I did lay holy hands on him and prayed that he would someday accept the gift of Salvation®. I have faith that God will cleanse him of sin (and hopefully of the smell of cheap liquor). Thank You, JESUS, for opportunities like this to see the true meaning of this season.

COME, LORD JESUS!
BrotherLarry

PS: If anyone has suggestions for getting beggar smell off of one's hands, please advise.

[Ezekiel Bathfire]

A touching story of faith in action, Brother Larry. I recall a few Christmases back, I was wandering down the road trying to get the old battery out of my Jesus-with-the-illuminating-eyes flashlight and keyring combo, when one of these beggars approached holding out a can with small change in it. He said, "A dime, mister?" (I remember the words quite clearly.)

Well, you see, that was the problem, the battery compartment is one that screws open by using a coin, and I had none. So I took one and thanked him.

I see this as the way the world works under God, "What goes around, comes around." and your beggar received his blessing as a sort of "thank you" for my beggar giving me something.