JOSHUA TIME 566

THE LORD'S LESSON
Carl was a quiet man. He didn't talk much.He would always greet you with a big smileand a firm handshake.Even after living in our neighborhood for over 50 years, no onecould really say they knew him very well.Before his retirement, he took the bus to work each morning.The lone sight of him walking down the street often worried us.He had a slight limp from a bullet wound received in W.W.II.Watching him, we worried that although he had survived W.W.II,he may not make it through our changing uptown neighborhoodwith itsever-increasing random violence, gangs, and drug activity.When he saw the flyer at our local church asking for volunteersfor caring for the gardens behind the minister's residence, heresponded in his characteristically unassuming manner. Withoutfanfare, he just signed up. He was well into his 87th year whenthe very thing we had always feared finally happened.He was just finishing his watering for the day when three gangmembers approached him. Ignoring their attempt to intimidatehim, he simply asked, "Would you like a drink from the hose?"The tallest and toughest-looking of the three said, "Yeah,sure," with a malevolent little smile.As Carl offered the hose to him, the other two grabbed Carl'sarm, throwing him down. As the hose snaked crazily over theground, dousing everything in its way, Carl's assailants stolehis retirement watch and his wallet, and then fled.Carl tried to get himself up, but he had been thrown down onhis bad leg. He lays there trying to gather himself as theminister came running to help him.Although the minister had witnessed the attack from his window,he couldn't get there fast enough to stop it. "Carl, areyou okay? Are you hurt?" the minister kept asking as he helpedCarl to his feet.Carl just passed a hand over his brow and sighed, shaking hishead. "Just some punk kids. I hope they'll wise-up someday."His wet clothes clung to his slight frame as he bent to pick upthe hose. He adjusted the nozzle again and started to water.Confused and a little concerned, the minister asked, "Carl,what are you doing?""I've got to finish my watering. It's been very dry lately,"came the calm reply.Satisfying himself that Carl really was all right, the ministercould only marvel. Carl was a man from a different time andplace.A few weeks later the three returned. Just as before theirthreat was unchallenged. Carl again offered them a drink fromhis hose.This time they didn't rob him. They wrenched the hose from hishand and drenched him head to foot in the icy water.When they had finished their humiliation of him, they saunteredoff down the street, throwing catcalls and curses, falling overone another laughing at the hilarity of what they had justdone.Carl just watched them. Then he turned toward the warmth givingsun, picked up his hose, and went on with his watering.The summer was quickly fading into fall Carl was doing sometilling when he was startled by the sudden approach of someonebehind him. Hestumbled and fell into some evergreen branches.As he struggled to regain his footing, he turned to see thetall leader of his summer tormentors reaching down for him. Hebraced himself for the expected attack."Don't worry old man, I'm not gonna hurt you this time." Theyoung man spoke softly, still offering the tattooed and scarredhand to Carl. As he helped Carl get up, the manpulled a crumpled bag from his pocket and handed it to Carl."What's this?" Carl asked."It's your stuff," the man explained. "It's your stuff back.Even the money in your wallet." "I don't understand," Carlsaid. "Why would you help me now?"The man shifted his feet, seeming embarrassed and ill at ease. "Ilearned something from you," he said. "I ran with that gang andhurt people like you. We picked you because you were old and weknew we could do it. But every time we came and did somethingto you, instead of yelling and fighting back, you tried to giveus a drink. You didn't hate us for hating you. You kept showinglove against our hate." He stopped for a moment."I couldn't sleep after we stole your stuff, so here it isback." He paused for another awkward moment, not knowing whatmore there was to say. "That bag's my way of saying thanks forstraightening me out, I guess." And with that, he walked offdown the street.Carl looked down at the sack in his hands and gingerly openedit. He took out his retirement watch and put it back on hiswrist. Opening his wallet, he checked for his wedding photo. Hegazed for a moment at the young bride that stills smiled backat him from all those years ago. He died one cold day afterChristmas that winter. Many people attended his funeral inspite of the weather.In particular the minister noticed a tall young man that hedidn't know sitting quietly in a distant corner of the church.The minister spoke of Carl's garden as a lesson in life. In avoice made thick with unshed tears, he said, "Do your best andmake your garden as beautiful as you can. We will never forgetCarl and his garden."The following spring another flyer went up. It read:"Person needed to care for Carl's garden."The flyer went unnoticed by the busy parishioners until one daywhen a knock was heard at the minister's office door.Opening the door, the minister saw a pair of scarred andtattooed hands holding the flyer. "I believe this is my job, ifyou'll have me," the young man said.The minister recognized him as the same young man who hadreturned the stolen watch and wallet to Carl.He knew that Carl's kindness had turned this man's life around.As the minister handed him the keys to the garden shed, hesaid, "Yes, go take care of Carl's garden and honor him."The man went to work and, over the next several years, hetended the flowers and vegetables just as Carl had done.In that time, he went to college, got married, and became aprominent member of the community. But he never forgot hispromise to Carl's memory and kept the garden as beautiful as hethought Carl would have kept it.One day he approached the new minister and told him that hecouldn't care for the garden any longer. He explained with ashy and happy smile, "My wife just had a baby boy last night,and she's bringing him home on Saturday.""Well, congratulations!" said the minister, as he was handedthe garden shed keys. "That's wonderful! What's the baby'name?" "Carl," hereplied.That's the whole gospel message simply statedTake 60 seconds give this a shot! Let's just see if Satan stopsthis one.All you do is:1. Simply say a small prayer for the person who sent you this.Father, God bless this person in whatever it is that You knowhe or she may be needing this day!2. Then send it on to five other people. Within hours fivepeople have prayed for you, and you caused a multitude ofpeople to pray to God for other people.Then sit back and watch the power of God work in your life fordoing the thing that you know He loves.GOOD FRIENDS ARE LIKE ANGELS, YOU DON'T HAVE TO SEE THEM TOKNOW THEY ARE THERE