It was a cold winter’s day that Sunday. The parking lot to the church was filling up quickly. I noticed as I got out of my car that fellow church members were whispering among themselves as they walked into the church.

As I got closer I saw a man leaned up against the wall outside the church. He was almost lying down as if he was asleep. He had on a long trench coat that was almost in shreds and a hat topped his head, pulled down so you could not see his face. He wore shoes that looked 30 years old, too small for his feet with holes all over them, his toes stuck out.

I assumed this man was homeless, and asleep, so I walked on by through the doors of the church. We all gathered for fellowship for a few minutes, and someone brought up the man lying outside. People snickered and gossiped but no one bothered to ask him to come in, including me.

A few moments later church began. We all waited for the Preacher to take his place and to give us the Word, when the doors to the church opened. In came the homeless man walking down the aisle with his head down.

People gasped and whispered and made faces. He made his way down the aisle and up onto the pulpit he took off his hat and coat. My heart sank. There stood our preacher ... he was the “homeless man”.

No one said a word. The preacher took his Bible and laid it on the stand. “Folks, I don’t think I have to tell you what I am preaching about today.” Then he started singing the words to this song:

IfI can help somebody as I pass along.

If I can cheer somebody with words or song.

If I can show somebody that he’s traveling wrong.

Then my living shall not be in vain.”



　　这是冬季里的一个寒冷的礼拜天。教堂前的停车处很快就停满了车。当我下车的时候，我注意到善男信女们边走进教堂边小声议论着什么。

　　我向教堂走去。这时，我看见一个男人斜靠在教堂的外墙上。他几乎是躺在地上，仿佛已经睡着了。他穿着一件破烂不堪的军大衣，头上斜扣着一顶帽子，几乎遮住了整张脸。从他穿的鞋来看，他大约30岁，不过他的鞋也太小了，他的脚都把它们撑破了，脚趾全都露出鞋外。

　　我猜想这是一个无家可归的人，昨晚在这里过夜，所以我也像其他人一样没做什么，就径直走进了教堂。我们在教堂里互相寒暄着，几分钟后，有人提起了教堂外面躺着的那个人。有人窃笑，有人表示厌恶，但就是没有一个人愿意出去邀请他进来，包括我。

　　不久，举行礼拜的时间到了。我们都等候着牧师上来给我们讲道。这时，教堂的门打开了，那个无家可归的人低着头走上了教堂的过道。人们的呼吸急促起来，小声议论着，脸上的表情都奇怪极了。那个人走到过道的尽头，直接登上了讲道坛，然后脱下他的外套和帽子。我的心一沉。此刻，在讲道坛上站着的是我们的牧师——那个“无家可归”的人。

　　没有人说一句话。牧师把他的《圣经》放到讲台上，说：“教徒们，我想我已不必告诉你们今天我想宣扬什么。”然后他唱起了这首歌：

　　“当我前行的时候，如果我能给人帮助；

　　如果我能用我的话语和歌声给人鼓励与欢呼；

　　如果我能指引人们走出迷途；

　　那么我的人生将不会白白度过。”

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