A heaven-moment

Have you ever felt as if you saw the skies open and caught a glimpse of heaven?

It happened to me several years ago when a friend of mine was preaching on a city street. My friend is an entertaining speaker, down-to-earth, funny and real. He quickly attracted a crowd.

After a while, a homeless man wandered up. He was extremely drunk and his stench made people recoil. He was causing problems, heckling the preacher and generally annoying people. Eventually he sat down on a bench.

That was when I saw him. I never knew his name. He was nothing to look at - weedy, middle-aged, balding. Few would look twice at him. He walked up to the bench and sat down next to the drunk guy who was close to passing out by this time.

Something happened then that took my breath away. The weedy-looking man put an arm round the drunk (bear in mind that awful smell!!). The homeless man collapsed against him and slept on his shoulder. For over half an hour, that ordinary man sat with his arm around someone most people shunned.

It was heaven on earth. Light in a dark place. I left with tears in my eyes.

Have you experienced something like that? Have you been inspired by a simple act of compassion, kindness or courage? Tell us about it. Write to me (ruth@voxmagazine.ie).

We hope VOX magazine will be a place of inspiration - a place where we can share stories of the 'miniature' heros of God's kingdom.

RGW (aka The Editor)