Storytime Tapestry Newsletter

The newsletter devoted to spreading love and cultural awareness throughout the world.

Special Treat – By Helen Dowd

June 18, 2006

Congratulations goes out to Helen Dowd who has made senior writer for Storytime Tapestry.

An Old Fashioned Preacher

Helen Dowd

Although Dad was not an ordained minister, no one would deny that he was a “Preacher”. There was not a day in his life that he was not preaching the gospel of the Lord he loved so much. He wasn’t highly educated; his speech wasn’t eloquent; he did not use fancy words, but his message was clear. And he not only preached to people, both at his work in the train yard or around the neighbourhood, he practiced what he preached.

"Brother Splane" was not rich in worldly possessions; in fact, he lacked a lot of the amenities of life enjoyed by his neighbours. But that didn’t bother him. As he would tell his children, there was always someone worse off than they were. And he taught his children also, that whatever blessings the Lord had given, were to be shared. Many-a-time he would pick up a hitchhiker along the road, and pile him into his beat-up old car and bring him home for a meal, and if necessary, a bed. But never did the hitchhiker leave without hearing the OLD FASHIONED Preacher preaching the OLD FASHIONED Gospel.

On Saturday nights you would not find Dad at the bar enjoying a drink with his friends, nor would you find him at the river fishing. However, it would not be unlikely for you to find him down by the riverbank, or outside the bar, holding a street meeting. Often accompanying him would be some of his children--who sometimes went unwillingly, not wanting to be seen by their schoolmates--holding little red hymnbooks, standing outside the pub, and singing along with the music of Dad's saxophone.

More than once a patron of the bar would stagger out and join in the singing of “When the Roll is Called Up Yonder” (Dad's favorite song), or “Shall We Gather At The River.” On those occasions Dad would give a one-on-one message to the willing listener, and lead his audience of one in a slurring prayer of repentance. Only God knows how many of those “prayers of repentance” were genuine. All that mattered to Dad was that he was doing what he knew God wanted him to do—Be an OLD FASHIONED preacher of the OLD FASHIONED Gospel.

© Helen Dowd

Bio

Helen Dowd enjoys spending time at her computer, along side her husband of 48 years, writing poetry, story poems, stories about pets and life in general, as well as inspirational and Bible stories. Her writings can be found on her website: www.occupytillicome.com. She has recently had a book published  – If You Only Knew!—a story of courage and faith, taking place during the Great Depression and beyond.  It can be viewed by pressing on the banner on the front page of her website.