Forest's Mark
Stories
Lectionary Tales For The Pulpit
Series II Cycle A
Forest never said much when he came to church. He would sit in the last pew on the left with his brother-in-law every week. In all his years he seldom missed a Sunday.
Persons meeting Forest for the first time would immediately notice his big smile. He was always upbeat and cheerful, never seeming to have a bad day. He dressed well, wearing a coat and tie each week to church. He had retired ten years before after working in the family car business his whole life. Young people who did not know him well would view him as a nice, quiet older gentleman who came to church each week, but that was all he did.
Early one summer Forest was scheduled for routine surgery and later diagnosed with cancer. By the end of summer he died.
After his death the truth about Forest came out. It was then that people throughout the community as well as the surrounding area began talking about Forest. There was one gentleman who said he had bought cars from Forest for many years. "Every car I ever bought I bought from him," he said.
There was something about Forest that made people trust him. He had a way about him that made people feel comfortable around him. An elderly woman told how when her car needed service, he would drive to her home to get the car and then bring it back later that afternoon. Another person told how he did not have enough money for the repairs and Forest allowed him to pay his bill when he could.
There was one family that was experiencing financial problems, and mysteriously there would be a bag of groceries on their porch each Friday. There was never a card or note or anything to identify who had brought the food each week. The family did not know where the food came from until several weeks later when one of the children spotted Forest's blue Chevy pulling out of the driveway.
Forest would always take the time to talk with people, which was one of the reasons he was so loved. No one seemed to know all the good things he did in his community. Forest was a man who helped people on a regular basis without letting anyone know. He never took credit or wanted public recognition for what he did, he just did what his faith required of him without fanfare. This was how he lived out his faith.
Persons meeting Forest for the first time would immediately notice his big smile. He was always upbeat and cheerful, never seeming to have a bad day. He dressed well, wearing a coat and tie each week to church. He had retired ten years before after working in the family car business his whole life. Young people who did not know him well would view him as a nice, quiet older gentleman who came to church each week, but that was all he did.
Early one summer Forest was scheduled for routine surgery and later diagnosed with cancer. By the end of summer he died.
After his death the truth about Forest came out. It was then that people throughout the community as well as the surrounding area began talking about Forest. There was one gentleman who said he had bought cars from Forest for many years. "Every car I ever bought I bought from him," he said.
There was something about Forest that made people trust him. He had a way about him that made people feel comfortable around him. An elderly woman told how when her car needed service, he would drive to her home to get the car and then bring it back later that afternoon. Another person told how he did not have enough money for the repairs and Forest allowed him to pay his bill when he could.
There was one family that was experiencing financial problems, and mysteriously there would be a bag of groceries on their porch each Friday. There was never a card or note or anything to identify who had brought the food each week. The family did not know where the food came from until several weeks later when one of the children spotted Forest's blue Chevy pulling out of the driveway.
Forest would always take the time to talk with people, which was one of the reasons he was so loved. No one seemed to know all the good things he did in his community. Forest was a man who helped people on a regular basis without letting anyone know. He never took credit or wanted public recognition for what he did, he just did what his faith required of him without fanfare. This was how he lived out his faith.
