From Australia...

My parents are out of the country and I got this email from my dad that I thought I'd share because it touched my heart!

"Yesterday was my first Sunday "out of the pulpit." (The previous
Sunday didn't count because we crossed the international date line,
passing from Saturday night directly to Monday morning!) It was a
free day for us. We had an experience that I thought I'd share.
Although it wasn't in a church building, it was a truly holy and
glorious moment.

We walked down to the "Circular Quay" where the famous Sydney Opera
House is situated. Across from the Opera House is a district called
"The Rocks" - full of shops, sidewalk booths, etc. It was a perfect
summer day, beautiful breeze, blue sky, sailboats filling the bay
behind us. A jazz group was playing on a stage in a courtyard, and we
got something to eat and enjoyed their music. A middle-aged couple
got up and started dancing - they were amazing! Then an old lady got
up, then an old man, and soon there were half-a-dozen people
spontaneously dancing to this beautiful music - blues, swing,

Near the stage, I noticed a five or six year old boy who was obviously
mentally handicapped - thick glasses, awkward gait. He seemed
absolutely entranced. He put up a fist to his mouth as if it were a
trumpet and pretended to play it with his other hand. Soon, without
realizing it, he had moved out beside the stage. His eyes were closed
and he was playing his heart out on his imaginary trumpet. The sax
player noticed this, and the hopped off the stage and stood beside the
young guy. When he opened his eyes, the sax player started dancing
around as he played and the little boy followed his lead. Then the
trumpet player saw them, and he came down. The little boy in between
the two musicians ... "playing" and dancing in an obvious state of
ecstacy - the audience started applauding and I know my eyes were
overflowing with tears to see something so beautiful and spontaneous
and glorious.

Then I looked back to where the boy had been, and his grandfather was
standing there in obvious delight to see his grandson so happy.

It was a perfect end to our time in Sydney, and that scene will stay
with me as a reminder that God is at work everywhere, if only we have
eyes to see."