KneEmail - a devotional by Mike Benson associated with Forthright Magazine
Tears
I REMEMBER WALKING down the hallway and nervously waiting in the lobby of the downstairs Bible office at Freed-Hardeman University...
I had an appointment for my first meeting with the upper-division Bible counselor, Dowell Flatt. Our first personal meeting would change my life.
The secretary told me that he was ready to see me. I gathered my books and papers and headed toward his office. I noticed that the door was cracked. Through the door, I could see brother Flatt with a few tears rolling down his cheeks. He was reading what appeared to be a book, and I definitely didn't want to interrupt him and cause an awkward first meeting. I was turning on my heels when he looked up through the crack and noticed me. "Come on in," he said through the partially opened door. I replied, "Brother Flatt, I can come back at another time."
I am not sure that he heard me or wanted to, for he leapt from his desk and sat me down. Once I took my seat, it was evident that he was reading a copy of the Gospel according to John, written in the original language. He then said, "Excuse my emotions, son. After all these years, it gets me every time. (Taft Ayers, "The Good News of John," used by permission -- Gospel Advocate).
KneEmail: "Jesus wept" ( John 11:23).