329. How Men Sometimes Receive Grace

A homeless person in USA had a ten year old son. His wife left him and took the son who was very fond of the father. Driving in an old car, he lived on pick-pocketing. He was once put in prison. His advocate had him on bail for a short while. His name was Bernie. When his car got stuck somewhere, a plane crashed just at that place. Bernie, though homeless and a pilferer, had a warm human heart. The escape door in the plane could not be opened from inside. There was a hue and cry from the passengers inside. Bernie opened the door with great difficulty and let most of the passengers out. Some were caught under a seat and others were in a precarious position. He helped each one to escape safely. There was a lady reporter under a seat. He lifted her out of the plane. In her wallet she had a small trophy awarded to her and some credit cards. Bernie pocketed them.

It was heavily raining. Before the Fire Service came, most of the people had been rescued, just before the plane exploded in fire. Bernie did not think of his humanitarian act. He left the scene of the crash by hitch-hiking. It was another homeless person, John to whom he narrated his story. A few days later, again he was lodged in jail. The escaped passengers, as soon as they came out of the hospital, talked to each other and were looking for the hero who had helped them. They all desired to recognize the person who had saved them. Bernie never cared for what he had done and was in jail. A million dollar award was announced if the hero of the crash would step forward and identify himself. The other homeless man John, a Vietnam war veteran, was truly a war hero who had saved many of his fellow soldiers years ago. He now decided to claim the award and he became a celebrity. But after he had become so famous, he had compunctions about being a fake. This conflict led him to think of jumping off a high building. In the meantime, Bernie came out of jail on bail. He heard about John's attempted suicide and rushed to the scene. John was poised on the window ledge. John asked Bernie to take over the award, as it was really his. Bernie was overwhelmed by the fanfare of publicity and asked John to continue his impersonation. He made a deal with John. All that he wanted was an allowance for his maintenance and education for his son.

Life rewards even thieves for the GOOD they are capable of. They often miss it and rarely enjoy it. Grace recognizes in us what the world does not and rewards it. Mostly it goes to the persons around us. I know at least five persons who missed the vice-chancellorships thrust on them and who ‘passed' it on to the man nearby.

Grace gives more than we can receive and possess.