Legend tells of a zealous young man who went to St. Francis of Assisi and implored the saint to teach him how to preach. Gladly, said Francis. Come with me.

All afternoon the young man followed Francis about, waiting eagerly for his lesson. They paused beneath a tree, and Francis stooped to return a young bird to its nest. They went on and stopped in a field crowded with reapers. Francis bent his back to help the laborers load the hay into a cart. From there they went to the town square, where Francis lifted a bucket of water from the well for an old woman and carried it to her home.

Each time they stopped, the young man was certain that a sermon would be forthcoming, but no words of great truth or wise discourse issued from the saints mouth. Finally, they went into the church, but Francis only knelt silently to pray.

At last they returned to the place from whence theyd started. But when, asked the young man, by now thoroughly perplexed, are you going to teach me how to preach?

Francis smiled. I just did.

By Patricia Houck Sprinkle