God's love beamed brightly from his face

 

OL’ CALVIN

Ol’ Calvin was a preacher, though he never had a church, and he seldom ever faced a crowd to preach. Great-Grandpa combed the Ozarks on a big old, dappled horse, in search of every soul that he could reach. Calvin kept a Bible, and he read it every day. He searched for words of comfort he could give. He seldom spoke of judgment, and he seldom spoke of death. He preached that folks might know the Lord and live. The folks could hear him coming when he traveled down their lane. Great-Grandpa always whistled as he rode. Folks always came out smiling, and that made him mighty proud. They were always glad to see him, and it showed. He’d share his tales of Grandma, all the kids and folks back home, and what he’d done that week to serve the Lord; but mostly Calvin listened, because Calvin really cared. He would listen by the hour and not be bored. Sometimes they’d kill a chicken when they heard ol’ Calvin come. He shared a bunch of suppers on the road. He carried little with him but his Bible and the Lord. He reaped the seeds of kindness that he sewed. Ol’ Calvin raised a big, ol’ beard to shade him from the sun. As he grew old, his beard grew long and gray. He’d part it in the middle when he sat down to a meal, and it framed his weathered face when he would pray: “Thank you, Lord, for these good folks and for each gift we share. Thank you for your Son and for His touch. Thank you for your promise and for your tender care. Thank you that you love us each so much.” Calvin loved the Ozarks, all God’s people, and his Lord. He never looked for faults; he looked for grace. His sermon was the life he lived, his message “God is love,” and God's love beamed brightly from his face.

Shannon Thomas Casebeer