Story 30.) Walking the Extra Mile . . . A true story of the awesome love of the God...

THOUGH I BEGIN MY STORY WITH: "Once there was a man..." this actually is a true story:  

Once there was a man who owned a furniture factory; and because of the hard times he was going through---with his business facing bankruptcy---he felt he was a total failure; that he had 'hit bottom,' reached 'bedrock,' and was of no use to anyone.  

   One night, this man was working late in his upstairs office at the factory. All his employees had gone home and he was alone. Though he was very engrossed in his paperwork, and distracted, agonizing in his heart because his business was failing so badly, he slowly became aware of a noise. He ignored it and carried on with his work. It was only a familiar noise. A sound he heard every day. But then he heard it again. And this time he realized the hour. Something was wrong. He got up and went to the window. Down below he saw a truck; and two men, unknown to him, opening the big, tall, double gates of his factory yard. Then they got back into their truck and drove it into his yard. There they got out again and began loading his timber, packaged in large heavy bundles, into their truck.  

   The factory owner was stunned at what he saw; but even more so, at himself; for his first, and most persistent thought was: what would God want him to do? The idea was completely new to him, and he was astonished. But he stood quietly beside the window, simply watching; giving up; and marvelling in his heart that he could do so. For a wonderful peace had come to him, along with an inexplicable sense of great love. He stood there amazed. It was as though within him a door had been opened and he could now, hear, and feel. After a few minutes, he went down into the yard, and approached the two men. 

   He asked them casually if they would like a hand with their work. The men were surprised. But this haggard and sorry-looking man seemed so much, like one of them, that they trusted him and agreed that they did need some help.    When the truck was loaded up; and with as much timber as the men wanted, they turned back to him to thank him. And one of them, asked, ‘Why did you help us? ---Who are you?’  

   The man, brokenly, replied, ‘I am the owner of this factory. I'm going through some hellish hard struggles in this business at the moment; and I was upstairs in my office, despairing over my book work--- when I--- when suddenly, I---- I just gave up!  Gave it all to--- to I don't know!  I, really don't know, who--- .’  Suddenly, he stopped; and a warm torrent of joy rushed right through him; and beaming, he continued. ‘---But, but then this thought came to me, right out of the blue: what would God want me to do? And as I stood by my window, watching you stealing my wood, I heard him say, 'Go down and help them.'  So here I am.'  

   The two men stared at him, speechless. Then suddenly one of them broke down and wept. Straight away the owner took him into his arms, like a brother, and comforted him; as a compassion, never experienced before, took over, coming from some unknown depth.  He instantly sensed that he was no better than them, and that they knew not what they did. Love, incomprehensible, filled his heart and overflowed; and touched both men. The owner freely forgave them both. Suddenly, they both desperately wanted to put back all they had stolen. But the owner told them to take it. For he knew now, he said, that God would help him, and his business, just as surely as he had helped them.  

   The lives of the three men were changed forever. Two never stole again; and the other, made a new man, also, grew to understand never to resist evil: for he could not again be sure that he even knew what it was.  

   Before the month was out the fortunes of the factory owner were completely turned around and his life filled with peace; and all the more he did good to those who had ill-used him. His business, also, quickly recovered. Soon it prospered and thrived. For with the same measure as he dealt out, so was he given, again; and over and above.   

    This is a true story.         

                                   

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       (This is an extract from my book manuscript of short stories, titled:                          A Circle of Swift Songs; A Circlet of Inner-Life Stories from the Light Tree              Journal.)  

                         

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