Old Joe's Faith
One day, the editor of a local newspaper decided to incorporate additional human interest, particularly in the situations of the physically challenged or handicapped. He chose to send one of his younger journalists to “get the dope” on Old Joe Shipman, an older citizen, no longer able to walk and get around without assistance. The story would highlight not just Old Joe, but the young man who lived with Old Joe as well. You see, the young man was also challenged in his own way. Earl was quite simple….not stupid or child like, but simple. Earl had the honesty of a simple person, a person who had never figured out how to lie or distort the truth.
When the editor called the young journalist to his office and explained the task. She was very excited for the opportunity. If she did a good job, this would be her first by-line. She called Old Joe’s residence and Earl answered the phone. He told her that he and Old Joe were available most anytime, so she made an appointment for the next day at 10:00 am. When she arrived at Old Joe’s home the next day, she was quite surprised with the greeting she received. There were flowers about the room and Earl asked if she would like some tea or coffee or something cool to drink. She opted for iced tea and spoke with Old Joe a bit while Earl fetched their beverages. Old Joe explained that Earl was an orphan Joe had taken in when Earl was very young. He had raised Earl the best he could, given Earl's simplicity, and had nothing but good things to say. He was especially proud of Earl’s ability to overcome his simplicity and deal with life. When Joe’s health failed and he could no longer get around on his own, Earl had given up opportunities to do better for himself in order to stay and help Old Joe. Old Joe’s story brought tears to the young journalist’s eyes as his love for Earl was so apparent.
Earl brought in the beverages, and, after a bit, Old Joe politely begged off any more questions, saying it was time for his nap and leaving Earl alone with the young journalist. She decided to question Earl and get his view of his responsibilities, his life with Old Joe.
“When did you decide to stay with Old Joe and be his full time assistant?” she asked. Earl smiled and said, “Well, Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know – he took me in when I was young and alone in the world. He raised me the best he could and always told me to have a good heart; so, when he got older and couldn’t get around so good any more, I couldn’t hardly just leave him alone with no one to help. I had to stay, don’t ya see? Old Joe’s a cripple ya know.” The young journalist was moved by his response and the look in Earl’s eyes when he answered. He was so sincere.
“Well…what do the two of you do for entertainment? “Well, Old Joe – he’s a cripple ya know – he likes mysteries. We watch a lot of TV mysteries like Perry Mason and Mike Hammer Barnaby Jones and Magnum P.I.. We like Moonlighting too, but it hasn’t been on much lately. We have a big screen TV. I get Old Joe into his favorite chair – that fat recliner over there. Old Joe – he’s a cripple ya know – he really likes that old chair. Says it fits his old body. I make popcorn and sit in the chair next to Old Joe so we can share. Old Joe loves buttered popcorn. I use real butter....and lots of it.”
“Do you two ever get out and about? Do you ever go anywhere?” Earl got a little excited. “Two years ago, we took a trip to Europe. We went to London and Paris and Rome. We saw Buckingham Palace and Big Ben and the Eiffel Tower and the ruins in Rome. We also went to the mineral springs in Germany. Someone said the waters had healing powers, so Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know – was hoping he might be healed by the waters. The journalist hesitated to ask, but did anyway. “Well, how did that work out? Did it help Old Joe at all?” “Well...Old Joe –he’s a cripple, ya know – he tried to believe he was some better; but he wasn’t. He knows better now.”
“Have you been on other vacations or trips that you remember?” “Oh, sure. Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know – he likes to get out. We go to the beach pretty often.” “Why would you and Old Joe go to the beach? What does Old Joe do while you’re chasing girls? “Girls! No, ma’am. I do not chase girls. Oh, I know they’re mighty pretty to look at, but I just would not know what to say to a girl. I might play a little volleyball or splash around in the waves a bit.” “Then what does Old Joe do while you have fun?” “Well…Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know – he says the warm sand is very good for his aches and pains. He likes for me to cover him all over.”
The young journalist was not finding quite enough story here, but she didn’t give up. “Has anything special ever happened while the two of you were at the beach? Have you ever met any of those pretty girls?” “No, ma’am; but this summer we did get to meet Oral Roberts when we went to Malibu Beach.” “Oral Roberts!” she exclaimed. “What was Oral Roberts doing at Malibu Beach?” “He was talking to folks about religion and bein’ saved. I heard he might be able to actually heal Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know – just by laying his hands on Old Joe.” After he was done talkin to the folks’, I asked Mr. Roberts if he could heal Old Joe.” “Is Old Joe a Christian?” “Does he really believe?” I told Mr. Roberts that Old Joe is a Christian and Mr. Roberts told me to go fetch Old Joe to him, that there was “gonna be a healin’ this day. So, I hurried down and fetched Old Joe from the sand; but Mr. Roberts and a lot of other folks realized Old Joe couldn't come to them, so they had followed me to where Old Joe was laying.
“Mr. Roberts took Old Joe by the shoulders and stood him up as best he could. Still holdin’ his shoulders, Mr. Roberts looked to the sky and said real loud, “Have faith and be healed!” Then he looked Old Joe in the eye. “Joe, do you believe?” Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know – he wants to walk again, he wants to believe and he says real loud, “I believe. I believe.” Mr. Roberts shook Old Joe real hard and asked even louder, “Your faith will heal you Joe! Do you believe? Do you believe?!” Old Joe’s face started shakin’ and he started cryin’. Mr. Roberts shook him real hard and screamed, “Do you believe?! Do you believe?! Joe was cryin' like a baby when Mr. Roberts said, "Joe, I’m gonna let you go now and you will able to stand on your own, to walk alone. Do you believe?! Do you believe?!” Old Joe – he’s a cripple, ya know - had tears running down his cheeks as he cried out loud, “Oh, Lord, I do believe, I do believe!” Mr. Roberts spoke once more, “Believe and you are healed!” He let go of Old Joe and stepped back.
The young journalist was consumed by the story and the excitement of the moment Old Joe had experienced just weeks before. “So, what happened? What happened?”
Earl smiled. “Old Joe fell on his ass. He’s a cripple, ya know.”
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