Question

Many years ago I was asked a question.  I honestly didn't know if it was a rhetorical question or a literal question.  I don't think anyone did.  I was with a large group of people, the question was asked and I had to make a decision.  It happened to be an action question--it required me to do something--if I were to take it literally.  The decision I made was not emotion based.  I did not dwell on it for a long amount of time.  I knew my answer.  I just wasn't sure if the person asking the question wanted the answer.  So, that was my dilemma that day.  How do I take the question?

I chose in those few seconds to take the question literally.  After all--he paused.  Maybe he shouldn't have.  Because I took action.  Right then.  Right there.  I stood up in front of about 1500 people and did what I did.

Here was his question.  What would you do if Jesus Christ were standing here in front of you right now?  Here at this very pulpit.  Looking at you. What would you do?

You could have heard a pin drop in that church, no one breathed, no one moved.  Was he serious?  That's what we were all thinking.  What does he want us to do?

And so, I stood.  I excused myself as I scooted past the others in my row and made my way to the front of the church.  And there in front of 1500 people--I knelt.  That's what I would do, that's what I did. I knelt.  Tears began to roll down my face, so I bowed my head.  I stayed that way for a very long time.  I was unaware of others--were they coming down too?  Was I the only one?  I didn't know.  I could only hear the pastor--he was crying.

After several long minutes--perhaps 10 or so, I got up.  The entire church was still quiet.  It seems that I was joined by just a few others.  I think that's why he was crying.  Really?  Only a few of us?  Where were the others? Where were my friends?  Were we the only ones that thought it was so much more than a rhetorical question?

I slowly made my way back to my seat--red-faced, a little bewildered, a little stunned.  He didn't finish the sermon.  He was done.  He was broken.  His heart hurt.  And now mine did too.

I know that on that day so many years ago others wanted to stand too but were afraid.  Or maybe they didn't want to, I'm not sure.  All I knew was that I had to stand.  I wasn't given a choice.  I had already given my heart and my life to God, so how in the world could I just sit there and do nothing?

Yes, sometimes I wonder what others thought of me that day.  Did they make fun of me, mock me or think that I thought I was so spiritual?  I guess I'll never know.  I just did what I had to do.  I took my mask off that day, I showed my true self.  I bowed before the Lord God my maker.
And I'm glad I did.