Have you seen the old woman who sits on side of road?
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By Joe Camp
Have you seen the old woman who sits on the side of the road on County Road 34 in Coosa County?
She is always there, just waiting. Her yard is neatly kept by one of her brothers. He makes sure the grass is always cut.
Silently as the days go by, a few of her brothers and sisters come to see her twice a week!
She sees everyone that goes by. She doesn’t miss anyone who passes by. Some have passed by at all times of the day and night, but she is always there.
She watches as one after another passes by. Some will look her way and smile, because they have good memories there. Some look straight ahead; I guess they hope maybe she won’t see them, or maybe she won’t be there.
Brothers and sisters, even strangers, are always welcome at her table at mealtime! She loves to hear old, old stories about times past. She also loves to hear your plans for the future. She also opens her house to those who might be afraid of nature’s storms or the storm you may be facing in your life.
She has a hand raised toward heaven with a cross in it. Some say she is crazy, that she should be ignored. Others say she won’t live long.
Have you noticed she always wears that white wedding dress? Some say she is looking for her fiancee. There was a great war – greater than you can remember! His Father asked him to enter that war, even die if necessary. To this day he has not returned. Even though he promised her he would!
Every year on the second Sunday in July, she has homecoming. It is a day set aside to remember her promise, hoping this will be the day of his return!
The battle lasted for three years. One day during the battle, his own people turned on him. They accused him of treason. They tortured him, they beat him, and they hung him on a tree. Not with a rope, but with nails in his hands and feet, to die a terrible death! They buried him and rolled a large stone over his grave.
However, it is reported that some of his friends saw him alive! After that, 500 people saw him, but so
far to this day he has not returned for her.
She wears her wedding dress every day with great expectations! She has a hard time waiting! Have you seen her lately? She is getting old. Would you stop and talk with her for a while?
She loves to tell you the stories of her lover. She has letters of his exploit from his friends who were by his side during the war.
If you think you can make her understand that he is dead and not coming back for her, she will look at you with those big eyes of hers. Then she will smile at you like you just don’t know what she does, then she will say, “Any day now! You will see! He is faithful and true. He has promised to return for me, and he will! He says he is preparing a room in his father’s house for me! He will come and carry me to his father’s house, now you just wait and see!”
The old lady is the church! Have you neglected and laughed at her?
Maybe you even feel sorry for her. Perhaps you have fallen out with her or one of her sisters or brothers! She still beckons you to please come. Return to our family! She will feed you. She will take care of you, but you will have to listen to her stories of her soulmate, Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords and King of Kings!
Who knows, you might just stay for a while. She has room at her table and in her heart.
Some of you may be a brother or sister whom she has adopted as family. But you moved away, got new jobs, married, and became busy with your new lives.
Maybe you haven’t thought of her lately or been by to visit.
If you hear or read this, come by and stop a while. It will bring back good memories. Stop by and see her; it won’t take long!
Joe Camp is pastor of Poplar Springs Baptist Church in Hanover.