He sat in his recliner.  His wife had left him.  His boss called and laid him off.  In front of him was a Bible from some church in town, preaching grace and peace.  Where is the grace and peace now, he thought.  He took the bottle on his end table.  Taking the bottle of whiskey, he popped the cap, poured out the pills in his hand.  No one.  I have no one he thought.  The Bible laid on the table.  Big deal.  “Where are those Christians?” he muttered. 

 

Just as he tilted his head back as his final act of life, he heard it.  It was soft at first, then louder.  “Help me.”  Silence.  “Is there anyone in there. It’s dark out here.”  He dropped the pills back into the bottle and capped the whiskey.  Opening the front door, a little boy stood.  He was staring at the man.  “Help me, it’s dark out here and I am lost.”

 

The man brought the little boy into the living room.  “Where is your mom and dad?” he growled.  “I don’t know,” the boy replied.  The man rubbed his jaw.  He called the police.

 

Thirty minutes later they arrived.  After talking to the boy, one office told the man the sad news.  The boy’s parents died in a car accident.  He had been placed in foster care but kept running away looking for his parents.  It would be hours before the social worker would arrive.  They would take him to the station or the man could keep him.  The little boy was all flustered.  He was trying not to cry. 

 

“I will keep him” he said.  “Just until the social worker arrives.”  The police nodded.  He told the little boy, who ran to the man and hugged him.  “Thank you,” he said trying not to cry.  “It was dark out there and I am all alone.”

 

Sometimes we are all alone.  Then God steps in.  Maybe with a little boy, a phone call or a knock at the door.  God does step in.  Then it is not dark.