Page 190 - some-stuff-i-wrote-and-some-stuff-i-didn't-(2011)-h-morris-williams

Some Stuff I Wrote and Some Stuff I Didn't (2011) H. Morris Williams

"OUR BUSY PASTOR" AT WESLEY MEMORIAL UNITED METHODIST CHURCH

I TRY TO TELL EVERYONE ABOUT OUR WONDERFUL CHURCH, WESLEY MEMORIAL
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. I'M ASKED HOW IS THE PASTOR AT WESLEY?
OUR PASTOR, REV. MABREY WORKS HARD AND PREACHES THREE DIFFERENT
SERMONS EVERY SUNDAY WHILE OTHER PREACHERS DO WELL TO PREACH ONE.

I WAS TOLD THAT HE HAS THE REST OF THE WEEK OFF. I SAID, NOT REV.
MABREY. HE ALSO HAS WEDDINGS AND FUNERALS AND HELPS POOR PEOPLE
WHEN HE CAN. LET ME TELL YOU ABOUT THE TIME REV. MABREY RECEIVED
A CALL FROM A POOR WOMAN WHOSE HUSBAND HAD JUST DIED.

THE POOR WOMAN TOLD REV. MABREY SHE WAS POOR AND COULD NOT AFFORD
A FUNERAL. HOWEVER, THE FUNERAL HOME TOLD HER THAT SHE COULD HAVE
A GRAVE SIDE SERVICE FOR HER HUSBAND IF SHE WILL FIND A PASTOR WHO
WOULD COME TO THE WEST SIDE CEMETERY AND HAVE A GRAVE SIDE SERVICE.
SHE SAID THAT THEY WOULD BE THERE AT NINE O'CLOCK THE NEXT DAY AT
THE CEMETERY.

REV. MABREY ROSE UP EARLY TO BE ON TIME AT THE CEMETERY,
BUT WHEN HE WALKED OUT TO HIS CAR, IT HAD A FLAT TIRE. REV. MABREY
OPENED THE TRUNK, GOT OUT THE JACK AND SPARE TIRE AND BEGAN PUT-
ING ON THE SPARE TIRE. HE FINISHED THE JOB, CLOSED THE TRUNK, AND
SPED OFF TOWARD THE WEST SIDE CEMETERY. AS HE ROUNDED THE CORNER,
HE WAS SO DEPRESSED, THERE WERE NO CARS AT THE CEMETERY. HE THOUGHT
HE WAS TO LATE FOR THE GRAVE SIDE SERVICE AND HAD LET THE LADY DOWN.

LOOKING AGAIN, REV. MABREY SAW TWO MEN.WITH LONG HANDLE SHOVELS PITCH­
ING DIRT INTO A HOLE IN THE GROUND. SO HE WALKED OVER THERE AND
WENT BETWEEN AND LOOKED DOWN INTO THE HOLE IN THE GOUND. HE SAW THE
LONG CONTAINER DOWN IN THE GRAVE AND FELT BETTER. HE HAD MADE IT IN
TIME FOR THE GRAVE SIDE SERVICE. SO, WHILE STANDING BETWEEN THE MEN
WITH THE LONG HANDLE SHOVELS, REV. MABREY STRETCHED OUT HIS ARMS OVER
THE HOLE AND SAIDj, ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST, WE'RE GONNA MISS
YOU BEING WITH US, A-MEN.

WELL, AS REV. MABREY WALKED BACK TO HIS CAR FEELING MUCH BETTER THAT
HE HAD SAID A GRAVE SIDE SERVICE BEFORE THE GRAVE WAS FILLED UP, ONE
OF THE MEN WITH THE LONG HANDLE SHOVELS LOOKED AT THE OTHER ONE AND
SAID-..... YOU KNOW, I'VE BEEN IN THIS BUSINESS OVER EIGHT YEARS AND
THOSE ARE THE STRANGEST WORDS I HAVE EVER HEARD ANYONE SAY OVER A
.....SEPTIC TANK,....A- MAN.

THIS WAS TOLD AT THE MONTHLY XYZ LUNCH AT WESLEY MEMORIAL .
UNITED METHODIST CHURCH FELLOWSHIP HALL AT NOON TIME, WEDNESDAY,
FEBRUARY 7, 2001.

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