Preacher Man was a well-known character with a reputation as a peddler. There was a story circulated that he had been discharged from the service with a "shell shock" condition. Some accused him of missing his "shooting tall" marble and found him a nuisance; others, just pitied or avoided him.

Preacher Man raised vegetables on a small patch of land he rented from a woman who had befriended him; he then sold his produce door- to-door. But peddling was not actually his profession; preaching was. He was thought of as being one of the less fortunate. Yet, he preached as though he was truly blessed. He could be seen walking door-to-door, peddling the Gospel along with the vegetables he had grown.

Preacher Man was suddenly diagnosed with cancer. He was not feeling well one day and the lady who had befriend him and rented him her land to raise his vegetables, knew he shouldn't be left alone. She insisted he sleep on her couch that night. The next morning, about 7:00 a.m., Ileen, the next-door neighbor, received a call:

"Send Gary over quickly. Preacher Man is on the floor in the bathroom, and I am afraid he is dead."

Ileen's husband, Gary, quickly ran over, while Ileen dialed 911, then started out the door herself. As she entered her neighbor's home, it was suddenly silent; she could see her husband checking on Preacher Man, lying on the bathroom floor. Ileen sat down in the living room, next to her neighbor, while Gary turned Preacher Man over, hoping to try and give him CPR.

Just as the door opened and the paramedics entered the house, Gary turned to witness their approach. Halfway through the living room, they stopped as if by an invisible force. It was at that moment Gary said he became aware of an overwhelming, almost deafening silence.

"It was as if I were feeling the presences of God," Gary said. Even the paramedics seemed to sense something, by their actions.

"It was a peaceful silence, as if time were standing still," both Gary and Ileen said.

Sitting there together, Ileen and her neighbor had a clear view of Preacher Man as he lay on the floor of the small bathroom. They suddenly became aware of a bright light that encircled him, as if outlining him; yet, it lit up the whole bathroom. There was no window in the bathroom, and yet there was a glow as bright as the sun.

"I was encased in a feeling of overwhelming awe, is the only way I can explain it," Ileen told me.

After the silent pause, the paramedics went to Preacher Man, though it was too late for anyone to be of help. As the paramedics worked, Ileen and her neighbor continued to see the glow surrounding him.

The rescue attempt was useless, and as the paramedics left, the glow arose from Preacher Man's body, ascending towards the ceiling as if ushering his spirit heavenward. Then the light dissipated and was gone. Ileen said she and her neighbor often talked about the bright light, the miraculous wonder, they had witnessed, in the days following Preacher Man's burial.

While alive Preacher Man's heart went out to those who were needy both in body and in spirit. Often, sacks of vegetables could be found on doorsteps of those who were laid off and out of work.

"That day, the day of his death, it was as if God had come to usher home a special saint," Ileen said.

When Jesus' disciples were arguing about which one would be the greatest in heaven he called a child to His side and used it as an example telling them, "Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me welcomes my father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest."

I believe it is how we treat others - those who seem different, poor or needy, or the outcast in our society - which may determine our greatness and our rewards. God surely must look upon the humble, which go about doing His will, as the greatest. Money in the bank, a nice car, a beautiful home or a lovely persona does not determine our greatness.

Perhaps this story will show us more completely how God looks upon a soul at death - and what He deems as important. It is often those who appear to be the least among us who are actually the greatest.

~ The Author is Betty King who is a speaker and freelance writer. She has an ezine, "Moments of Reflection," that may be subscribed to by going to her website at http://www.bettyking.net  By receiving her ezine she hopes to add a bright spot to your day by way of encouraging, inspiring or merely entertaining you ~

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