The Holy Encounter 

This story arrived to me through e-mail, it did not have a title, so I gave it one, I think the title: " The Holy Encounter"  is very appropiate. when you read the story I am sure you will agree.

Subject: this is an awsome story. Please take the time to read it.

 One day, when I was a freshman in high school, I saw a kid from my  class
was walking home from school.  His name was Kyle.  It looked like  he was
carrying all of his books.  I thought to myself, "Why would anyone bring
home all his books on a Friday?  He must really be a nerd."   I had quite a
weekend planned (parties and a football game with my friends  tomorrow
afternoon), so I shrugged my shoulders and went on.

  As I was walking, I saw a bunch of kids running toward him.  They ran at
him,  knocking all his books out of his arms and  tripping him so he
landed in the dirt.  His glasses went flying,  and I saw them land in the
grass about ten feet from him.  He looked up and I saw this terrible
sadness in his eyes.  My heart went out to him.   So, I jogged over to him and as he crawled around looking for his glasses, and I saw a tear in his eye.

As I handed him his glasses, I said,  "Those guys are jerks.They really
should get lives."

He looked at me and said, "Hey thanks!"   There was a big smile on his
face.
It was one of those smiles that showed real gratitude.   I helped him
pick up his books, and asked him where he lived.   As it turned out, he
lived near me, so I asked him why I had never seen him before.  He said he
had gone to private school before now.

  I  would have never hung out with a private school kid before.  We talked
all the way home, and I carried his books.  He turned out to be a pretty
cool kid.   I asked him if he wanted to play football on Saturday  with me
and my friends.  He said yes.

We hung all weekend and the more I got to know Kyle, the more I liked him.
And my friends thought the same of him.  Monday morning came, and
there was Kyle with the huge stack of books again.  I stopped him and said,
"Damn boy, you are gonna really build some serious muscles with this pile of books everyday!"

He just laughed and handed me half the books.

Over the next four years, Kyle and I became best friends.   When we were
seniors, began to think about college.   Kyle decided on Georgetown,
and I was going to Duke.  I knew that we would always be friends, that the
miles would never be a problem.   He was going to be a doctor, and I was
going for business on a football scholarship.  Kyle was valedictorian of
our class.  I teased him all the time about being a nerd.  He had to prepare a speech for graduation.  I was so glad it wasn't me having to get up there
and speak.

Graduation day, I saw Kyle.  He looked great.   He was one of those guys
that really found himself during high school.  He filled out and actually
looked good in glasses.  He had more dates than me and all the girls loved
him!   Boy, sometimes I was jealous.   Today was one of those days.

I could see that he was nervous about his speech.   So, I smacked him on
the back and said,  "Hey, big guy, you'll be great!"
He looked at me with one of those looks (the really grateful one) and
smiled.  "Thanks," he said.

As he started his speech, he cleared his throat, and began. "Graduation is
a time to thank those who helped you make it through those tough
years. Your parents, your teachers, your siblings, maybe a coach... but
mostly your friends.   I am here to tell all of you that being a friend to
someone is the best gift you can give them.  I am going to tell you a
story."

 I just looked at my friend with disbelief as he told the story of the
first day we met. He had planned to kill himself over the weekend.  He talked of how he had cleaned out his locker so his mom wouldn't have to do it later and was carrying his stuff home.  He looked hard at me and gave me a little smile.  "Thankfully, I was saved.  My friend saved me from doing the unspeakable."

I heard the gasp go through the crowd as this handsome, popular boy told us
all about his weakest moment.  I saw his mom and dad looking at me and
smiling that same grateful smile.  Not until that moment did I realize it's
depth.

Never underestimate the power of your actions.   With one small gesture you can change a person's life.   For better or for worse.  God puts us all in
each other's lives to impact one another in some way.  Look for God in
others.

more stories of the heart

TrueLove

page created 12/9/99 by  drlove@usa.net