 There is a popular story that has been passed
around, via e-mail or retreats. It summarizes one of the big divides that
exists within the church. It concerns the difference between knowledge of
God and actually knowing God. A person can come to a knowledge of God
through books and studies. Actually knowing God is heartfelt communion of a
persons heart and intellect with the divine. This story is called the great
orator. There was a great orator, who had world wide acclaim. This orator
decided to perform a show in Washington, DC. The theater was packed on the
night of the show. When the curtains opened and the orator came out to
present his first selection and the crowd erupted in cheers. Throughout the
night the orator did numerous excerpts from various plays, speeches, and
works of literature. It came time for the final selection. The orator liked
to finish his performance with a selection from the bible. He especially
enjoyed reciting Psalm 23. The orator stood on the stage alone and waited
for complete silence in the theater. His assistant brought him out a large
Gold trimmed bible that was opened to the Psalm. In his most powerful voice
he began to proclaim, "the lord is my Shepard there is nothing I shall want,
He makes me lie down in green pastures…. yea though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for thou art with me…" As
the orator continued the crowd sat intensely focused on his every word, at
times on the edge of their seats. After the orator finished his last few
words, "and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever," the whole
theater burst into a standing ovation. As the orator was taking his final
bows, there was a peculiar sight. The applause was slowly ended and the
young man made his way onto the stage. He began to pull a small bible out
from one of his pockets. The orator gestured for the young man to step to
the microphone. The young man opened his bible to Psalm 23 and in a soft,
timid voice began to read, "the lord is my Shepard there is nothing I shall
want, He makes me lie down in green pastures…. yea though I walk through the
valley of the shadow of death I shall fear no evil for thou art with me…"
After he finished there was silence in the theater. Many were crying while
others watched in awe. The orator approached the young man and said that he
had spoken throughout the world and had never heard that psalm presented in
such a way. The young man replied, "sir, you know all the words and you know
how to put them together to make a powerful speech, but I know the author
behind the words."
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