'His Rivers'
Thank you Al & Virginia
1984 - Greensboro, NC
Mark Leavell
I was at the very lowest point in my life. I had lost most everything that I considered of value, including my family. I had cried until tears would no longer come. It seemed that all I had worked for and dreamed for was now beyond any hope of saving. Alone, with no furniture but a worn out canvas directors chair, and a used mattress on the floor, I often sat on the floor in my apartment, lonely, confused and depressed.
One Sunday morning, I decided to take a drive. I ended up driving by a very small Church of the Nazarene. For some unknown reason - well, we all know why - I thought, I think I will go inside. Church had already begun, as I slipped quietly in the back and sat on the back pew. There may have been 20 or so people there - all much older than I. The pastor was already delivering the morning message by the time I sat down.
To this day I have no memory of a single word that was said, or a song that was sung. But having been in the Church of the Nazarene all of my 39 years, and the son of a Nazarene Pastor, I knew well the 'routine'. So as the service was about to close, I quietly slipped out during the Pastor's closing prayer.
I just about made it to the door, when out of 'no-where' an old lady - well, she seemed old - appeared directly in my path. "I'm sorry, I didn't get to meet you, my name is Virginia - what is yours?" I tried not to be rude, as I quietly told her my name. "Well, my husband Al and I would like to take you to lunch. I hope that would be okay?" Before I realized what I had done, I said, "Yeah, I guess so". READ THE REST OF THE STORY...