Passing-Thought

a moment of unexpected beauty

I was surprised by one of those moments yesterday that filled me with a sense of fresh awe for the power of the gospel. I had asked my roommate for a ride to work, since my car was in the shop, and I so invited him to stay with me there, so I could introduce him to the campus and what all goes on at the International Linguistics Center. He really enjoyed the media and museum we share with visitors, but I feared he would become bored later in the afternoon. So I said he was free to take a walk. A half hour later I went looking for him, fearing he might be lost or causing other people to say, "My I help you?" every where he went.

I entered into the Welcome Center where we had first gone, and to my surprise he was helping the staff set up the orientation room by carrying two chairs, one under each arm. Now, my roommate Keith is a very kind person, so I should not be surprised. But he is also partially crippled on the right side of his body. I rarely see him do anything with his right arm. If there is someone who might expect to always be served, he is one of those people. But here I find him finding ways to serve others. A man who is physically less than most men, doing what what most men do not and demonstrating a strength that few men possess. Simply glorious! I was as proud as if he were my own son (though older in years much less in the faith); proud of Christ in him.