Walk The Walk
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series IV, Cycle A
"What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' He answered, 'I will not'; but later he changed his mind and went." (vv. 28--29)
A soldier was shot and badly wounded in battle during the Civil War. While in a hospital encampment, a chaplain approached the wounded soldier to offer whatever aid he could. He asked the young man if he'd like to hear a few verses from the Bible. The wounded man said, "I'm really very thirsty; I'd rather have some water." The chaplain reached for his canteen and gave the man a drink. After the soldier took a few swallows, he returned the canteen to the chaplain.
The chaplain then repeated his offer to read some scripture verses. The soldier responded, "No, sir, not now - but could you put something under my head?" The chaplain looked around. There weren't any pillows, but he spotted a wool blanket in the corner of the tent. He picked it up and carefully folded it and fluffed it into a makeshift pillow. He very gently placed it under the soldier's head propping him up to give as much comfort as possible.
Once again, the chaplain asked about reading verses from the Bible. "No," said the soldier, "I'm cold. Could you cover me up?" With the extra blanket already being used as a pillow, the chaplain took off his coat and laid it on the soldier, meticulously tucking the soldier in.
Feeling that he had done all he could do for the soldier, the chaplain began to leave without repeating his offer to read scripture. After the chaplain took two steps, the soldier called out to him, "Wait." The chaplain stopped, and slowly turned back toward the soldier. The young man then whispered, "Look, Chaplain, if there's anything in that book of yours that makes you help someone like you've helped me, then I want to hear it."
A soldier was shot and badly wounded in battle during the Civil War. While in a hospital encampment, a chaplain approached the wounded soldier to offer whatever aid he could. He asked the young man if he'd like to hear a few verses from the Bible. The wounded man said, "I'm really very thirsty; I'd rather have some water." The chaplain reached for his canteen and gave the man a drink. After the soldier took a few swallows, he returned the canteen to the chaplain.
The chaplain then repeated his offer to read some scripture verses. The soldier responded, "No, sir, not now - but could you put something under my head?" The chaplain looked around. There weren't any pillows, but he spotted a wool blanket in the corner of the tent. He picked it up and carefully folded it and fluffed it into a makeshift pillow. He very gently placed it under the soldier's head propping him up to give as much comfort as possible.
Once again, the chaplain asked about reading verses from the Bible. "No," said the soldier, "I'm cold. Could you cover me up?" With the extra blanket already being used as a pillow, the chaplain took off his coat and laid it on the soldier, meticulously tucking the soldier in.
Feeling that he had done all he could do for the soldier, the chaplain began to leave without repeating his offer to read scripture. After the chaplain took two steps, the soldier called out to him, "Wait." The chaplain stopped, and slowly turned back toward the soldier. The young man then whispered, "Look, Chaplain, if there's anything in that book of yours that makes you help someone like you've helped me, then I want to hear it."
