Here is another short, but hopefully powerful blog post. Some time ago I ran across a brief story about the world renowned British/American stage and screen actor, director and producer Charles Laughton, who died in 1962. About three years ago I shared it with the men’s group at CLC and I nearly choked up at the end. This story still touches me so deeply that I’m sure I’d do that again if I tried to tell it to you today.
As a young stage actor, he was invited by a friend to an English manor for Christmas dinner. After enjoying a fabulous meal, they all moved to the parlor where the host announced it was a family tradition on Christmas for each person to share their favorite passage of scripture. Charles Laughton began by standing and giving a passionate recitation of the 23rd Psalm. When he finished they all cheered and applauded. They continued around the room until they finally came to an elderly aunt who had dozed off in her chair. They gently shook her and asked if she had a scripture she would like to share. She nodded yes and with a soft voice she began, “The Lord is my shepherd. I shall not want…” When she was finished there was not a dry eye in the room. Later, as they were saying their goodbyes, the host commented to the actor about the very different response he and the old lady had received. Charles Laughton replied, “The answer is simple. I know the Psalm, she knows the Shepherd.”
We could read the Bible from cover to cover again and again memorizing verse after verse, but it would just be a mental exercise. It only becomes a matter of the heart when we know the Shepherd personally.