This was the first time in all times we’ve met at the Mall Crusty’s been this upset. This was out of character for him indicating something was going far below the surface. “Crusty I’ve never seen you this upset,” I shot back.

“Upset! Upset! I’m not upset I’m out and out mad! How dare he play with my faith like he did. I trusted him Gary just as much as I trust you. He took my faith and squished it like stepping on a bug,” tears were forming in his eyes and he spoke.

“What do you mean he squished your faith,” I asked?

“I base my belief in Jesus on the two of you. You two are my pillars of faith,” came the sobbing reply.

I had hoped he wouldn’t have said that but deep inside I was pretty sure that’s what he was doing. “Crusty have you ever had a personal experience with Jesus Christ,” I asked?

“Nope, don’t need one I’ve got you! Yesterday I had you and Bernie,” he replied.

“But Crusty that’s putting to much stress on us. Becoming a Christian does mean we somehow give up our humanness. Jesus needs to be your pillar of faith not me, not Bernie, not even your church. You need to see Jesus’ reality in your own personal life,” answered back.

“Me, Crusty having a personal experience with Jesus now that’s a novel idea,” he said laughingly.

“What’s so funny about it,” I asked?

“What’s so funny? What’s so funny? Jesus and me bonding that’s what’s so funny!”

“There’s nothing funny about it Crusty. You need your own experience with Jesus. You don’t depend upon your parents to financially support you do you,” I asked?

“Crusty the Christian depends on no one to give me money I earn my own,” came the answer, “I suppose you’re going to ask we why, then do I depend upon someone else for my faith in Jesus.”

“Yup!”

“If I had an encounter with Jesus I wouldn’t know what to say.”

“You could start by saying I love you Jesus. But you’ll probably never encounter Jesus face to face in this life anyway for now you’ll feel his reality deep inside which is just as important. Once you’ve encountered Jesus for yourself what anyone else thinks will no longer matter,” I replied, “You’d say hey, I got my own story of Jesus I don’t needs yours.”

“You mean I wouldn’t have gotten made at Bernie?”

“Yup!”

We both fell silent for a moment. Crusty spoke first, “Guess what?”

“What,” I asked?

“I owe Bernie an apology,” Crusty replied.

“Perhaps you do, but first you owe it to Bernie to develop your own relationship with Jesus because he may need to depend on your faith at this point in his life.”

“Gary?”

“Yes Crusty.”

“Will you say a prayer for me right now,” he asked?

I always feel uncomfortable praying in public like this but I knew Crusty’s needs were greater than my uneasiness at praying so we bowed or heads. “Jesus,” I started, “Crusty’s got something to ask you. Amen.”

I could feel Crusty staring at me but he remained silent. Almost two minutes passed when suddenly, “Jesus I love you and I need you to come into my heart. My friend’s Gary and Bernie have been good witnesses for you but I need to have my own faith in you. Amen.” We sat there with heads bowed for 3 or 4 minutes more neither one speaking in fact it seemed as if the entire Mall had become quiet for us. Then without saying a word Crusty stood up and walked away. As I sat watching him I knew he’d just made a new friend. A friend named Jesus. (Taken from "Life 101 With Crusty the Christian")

Grace and Peace,
gary