Thursday, July 8, 2004
You were taught to put away your former way of life, your old self, corrupt and deluded by its lusts, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
(Ephesians 4.22-24
NRSV)
It was Christmas Eve. A young Norman Vincent Peale was shopping with his father, Dr. Charles Clifford Peale. Clifford Peale was a physician who gave up his medical practice to become a pastor. They were walking along Fourth Street in Cincinnati when a bum--what we would call today a street person--approached them. The man stretched out his filthy hand, placing it like a claw on young Norman's shoulder. Frightened and repulsed, Norman shook himself free and ran down the sidewalk. Dr. Peale went to his son, gave him a dollar, and instructed him to return to the man and offer him the money in the name of Jesus Christ. Norman did as he was told. He was surprised when the gentleman graciously received the money. Then the man smiled, and a beautiful radiance shone in his face. Traveling home that evening, riding the street car up Gilbert Avenue, Clifford Peale asked his son to describe what happened. Norman did not fumble for words. Quickly he answered, "I saw the man as he really is." His father responded, "Always remember and never forget it. Jesus Christ can make men and women what they can be."
Dear God, help me to be what I can be. Amen.
Ron
Newhouse
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