κήρυξον τὸν λόγον

Every time I read or hear about John the Baptizer, I am reminded of a man I encountered years ago at a rest area along I-55 in Illinois. I was walking back to the car when I saw a state trooper pulled up in front of me. Out stepped two men: the trooper and the guy who today reminds me of John the Baptizer. This guy was wild looking. He had a full beard, long hair, long coat. He clearly had been outside for a long time. Kinda dirty, you know. Where’d he come from, I wondered.  “Can I get a ride,” he asked. Woah, he spoke to me. My heart skipped a beat.  “Um, I am only going up to the next exit,” I muttered, knowing that I was going much farther. I quickly made my way to the car and drove off, feeling like I couldn’t get away fast enough. “Turn around, Jerry,” I told myself. “Turn around, and give this guy a ride.”  “What are you crazy,” I thought.  “No, seriously; turn around and take him to a motel and buy him a meal.” For 30 miles, I pleaded with myself, “Turn aroun...