The second thread of conversation was inspired by a story told by Greg Paul, the founder and director of Sanctuary Ministries in Toronto. Contained in Greg’s book, “God in the Alley,” the story goes something like this:
“I’m afraid to meet Jesus because I don’t got an answer.”
“Oh, that’s easy, man! The answer is, he loves you” I can’t believe I’m saying this. I wonder again if I’m being set up. I definitely don’t want to go there. But what else could I say? And him-you’d think I’d just thrown him a lifelines. He cocks an eye at me, bright and hard as a marble, from beneath an eyebrow like a shrub.
“D’ya think?” he says sharply, his whole body suddenly tense and expectant as a diver on the high board…
“Jesus loves you, man. So much-he died for you to prove it. You don’t need to be afraid.” His arm tightens even more for a moment, then he releases me entirely. Stepping back, he shakes hands with both of us, solemn as a penguin, then he smiles, spins away, and tumbles off along the sidewalk. Joe and I are watching him go, a little stunned by the unexpectedness of it. Part of me is still waiting for him to experience a miracle conversion, followed by a request for five bucks.
He is perhaps fifteen or twenty yards away when he stops, tilts his head back and laughs, a hearty, happy laugh, big enough to hang in the air despite the nasty wind whipping along Carlton Street. Now he is sauntering away, and I find myself elated, wondering who’s been witnessing to whom.
“There are angels everywhere,” I say to Joe as we cross the street.
