[USMCRET6391]

A young backwoods Virginia preacher was asked to hold a graveside
service for a man with no family or friends. The funeral was way back in
the hills and the preacher got lost on the way. When he arrived an hour
late, he saw a backhoe and crew, but the hearse was nowhere in sight.
The workmen were eating lunch.

The diligent pastor went to the open grave to find the vault lid in
place....but ,still he poured out his heart and preached an impassioned
and lengthy service.

Returning to his car, he felt that he had done his duty and left with a
renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in spite of his tardiness. As
he got into his car, he overheard one worker talking to another worker:

"I've been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I ain't never seen
anything like that before."