SEEING EYE-TO-EYE

The former pastor of the Riverside Church in New York City was fond of telling the story of an elderly woman parishioner who had acquired an immense dislike for him. Worse yet, she spent a great deal of her time conveying these feelings to others in the parish …

The pastor knew this and he dreaded the day when his parish calls inevitably would lead to her door.

Finally, the day came when his visitation schedule led him to her building. He paced up and down in front of the building, trying to work up the courage to go in, hoping that she would not be at home so that he could just leave his card.

Then he went in and knocked on the woman’s door. No answer! Again he knocked. Again, no answer! He knocked a third time and heard a faint sound inside, but no one came to the door.

Then he knelt down and peered through the keyhole to see if anything…