The Gate of Heaven

As Thanksgiving Day approaches, I remember the weathered face of an ordinary, middle-aged man who taught me more about gratitude than any book or Bible verse ever could. His name was João, and I met him at an international publishing conference in São Paulo, Brazil. The sessions were interesting but draining, partly due to the multitude of languages spoken. Thankfully, on the final day of the conference, the organizers scheduled a day of recreation at the beach. Piling into one of the 15-passenger vans, I was not too surprised to find João in the driver’s seat. The seminary’s longtime maintenance man cheerfully wore many hats. “João-of-all-trades,” we called him.
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