Sounds Absurd, Doesn't it?

     A well known pastor was caught in crossfire yesterday as he was making his way to a homeless shelter to serve lunch. He had served lunch there every Tuesday for three years and had encouraged his family, his staff and his congregation to join him to no avail. On this particular day he had been distracted by thoughts he had eluded for a long time. Long enough in fact, that he was sure he had conquered them for good; but here they were...


His injuries were severe. When the ambulance arrived he was conscious but was losing blood at an alarming rate. When asked what hospital he wanted to be taken to he acted as if he didn't even hear the question. With wide eyes he demanded to know if he was going to make it.

"If we get you to the hospital within five minutes you may live. If it takes even 5 minutes more you will die for sure."

"I might die even if we get there in five?"

"Yes, you are losing a lot of blood."

The pastor laid his head back, closed his eyes tightly and was overcome with fear, regret and anxiety... "It shouldn't be this way" he thought. "I should have been ready!"

Then, with urgency in his voice, he demanded that the EMT take him by his office at the church. "Absolutely not, you are dying and we need to get you to the hospital."

"I need you to take me to the Church" he insisted. "I have to erase some things off of my computer!!And then by my house. Please, you must understand!"

"That is absurd; we are taking you to the hospital."

The pastor began to sob. He had lived in fear that someone would find out and he would have to reveal to the world that he couldn't do it on his own. Now, if he died they would know for sure and there was nothing he could do about it. He decided if he lived he would tell someone. But who? He would be subject to strict accountability and could lose his job, his prestige and even his family. He decided at that moment that he would rather die.