“I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me” (Jn 14:6). Week 4 of home service; currently near Omaha, NE. I spent most of the day in my hotel room, catching up on desk work and preparing for tomorrow’s presentation at Holy Cross in Carlisle, Iowa. Around “quitting time,” I headed down to the hotel patio to take some sunshine, pop open a beer, and read some Joseph Conrad. After a few minutes, a fellow patron sat down across the patio for a smoke. Having to raise his voice over the strong Nebraska wind, he told me that he was here for a business meeting. He explained his job to me, told me his age, and shared that he is divorced and that he raised nine children. He seemed eager to talk to a stranger. I told him that I was a missionary in Germany, currently back home for a spell. “You’re doing a good thing over there…” he offered. Then he got back to more details about his life. After a good while, I asked him. “So… are you going to heaven?” He paused for a while before replying. “I don’t really know. But I do believe in a Higher Power. And I pray every night.” “To whom or to what?” I queried. “Well, simply to a Higher Power…” Hmmm. “Did you grow up Christian?” I inquired. “I grew up Roman Catholic, but stopped going to church years ago…” “Well, you may or may not have heard that the door to heaven actually has a name. It is Jesus Christ. Because only Jesus Christ died for your sins and gives you eternal life and salvation. A generic Higher Power can’t do that.” At that point, one of his coworkers joined him. They started talking shop. I got back to Joseph Conrad. As soon as I had finished my beer, the Nebraska wind blew the empty can off the table. I picked it up, walked over to them, and said: “I may or may not see you folks tomorrow in the breakfast room. But don’t forget,” looking at my loquacious new friend, “the door to heaven has a name….” He finished my sentence: “Jesus Christ,” he replied with a twinkle in his eye. “Exactly…” I replied.
The Tiews in Germany 