They gathered in the board room to discuss the evening's agenda. Some of the men were standing at the windows looking down 20 plus floors at the streets and the evening's traffic jams. Some were sitting in their chairs drumming their pencils, making small talk about the weather and world wide predictions of global warming.
They were religious leaders from different backgrounds. The chairman of the board walked to the head of the table and stood behind his chair. His white hair was neatly combed and his stylish colorful tie had been pulled off and was laying across his chair.
"OK, I'll start with you Bill. What is your complaint with this young man that has created this disgruntlement within our committee?" He began as he continued to stand and pace slowly around the table.
Bill began without hesitation, "Well to start with he hasn't joined any of our congregations."
Many were nodding in agreement as the men took turns speaking out.
"And we aren't sure he even confesses he knows God the way we do." Fred joined in.
Each one stated their concerns while Samuel strolled around the room. He returned to his chair and spoke. "This is what I'd like for each of you to do, separately. I want you to follow him without him noticing you are anywhere nearby. Observe his behavior, his connections, his purchases, where he likes to go everyday and then we will return here to discuss this further in two weeks."
Everyone agreed this was a great idea. Off they went to follow Alex.
As they had agreed they returned to the boardroom in two weeks. The chairman was sitting down in his chair this time. He began the meeting with a prayer. Then he began the questioning.
"I'd like to have each one of you state where you followed him to and what you observed. That is all. I don't want any commentary. Let's just start with the facts."
Bill: "I followed him to a nursing home. He was visiting an elderly woman who had just been admitted there, I found out, a few days before. I saw him praying with her."
Sam: "I followed him to a non-denominational ministry center and watched him help receive those who were filing inside to get some food and some clothes. He was cheerful and non-judgmental to each one and he was making the other volunteers laugh with some sharing of his life, etc."
Fred: "I followed him to a Hospice House. He went inside to visit a young man who was dying with AIDS. He held him close, spoke without judgment, prayed with him and stayed there until that young man passed away a couple of hours later."
Jim: "I followed him to a school where he had been invited to read to some lst graders. The book he was reading was about not bullying but accepting everyone no matter what their clothes looked like or how their bodies might be different, some perhaps with ambulatory difficulties, speech challenges, etc."
John: "I followed him to recycle center where he was deep in trash and plastic bottles and cans and glass. He was whistling and humming some tune. He never seemed to mind sorting through all that mess."
George: "I followed him to a hillside overlooking the city. He seemed to be meditating. His eyes were closed and he was completely still in the same position for over 20 minutes. And after that he got up and went to an animal shelter where he volunteered walking the dogs and brushing some cats and playing with some kittens. He cleaned some of the empty pens and got fresh water for all of them."
The chairman spoke up again. "Did any of you see him in your church?"
All the men stated that he had donated some money to their churches. And one of the men said he was aware of him donating to the Chamber of Commerce, Red Cross, their local library, a group that helps with scholarships, and a place that harbors women needing a safe house to stay in for awhile. Each one also admitted that he had visited their church at least once in the past year.
The chairman began, "So, can anyone tell me what religion you think he might profess?"
The eldest of the group slowly rose to his feet. "I haven't been watching this young man just the past few days. I've been observing him ever since he arrived here after hearing him in a conversation at the coffee shop. And after listening to all of you I think I've clearly decided that the religion he follows is LOVE."
Meeting was adjourned.
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