> > >>>>> > Here is a true story by Paul Harvey. Pass it to anyone who you
> think
> > >>>>would
> > >>>>> > find it interesting and inspiring.
> > >>>>> > Years ago a hardworking man took his family from New York State
> to
> > >>>>> Australia
> > >>>>> > to take advantage of a work opportunity there. Part of this
> man's
> > >>>family
> > >>>>> was
> > >>>>> > a handsome young son who had aspirations of joining the circus
> as
> a
> > >>>>> trapeze
> > >>>>> > artist, or become an actor. This young fellow, biding his time
> until
> > >a
> > >>>>> circus
> > >>>>> > job or
> > >>>>> > even one as a stagehand came along, worked at the local
> shipyards
> > >>which
> > >>>>> > bordered on the worse section of town. Walking home from work
> one
> > >>>>evening
> > >>>>> > this young man was attacked by five thugs who wanted to rob
him.
> > >>>Instead
> > >>>>> of
> > >>>>> > just giving up his money the young fellow resisted. However,
> they
> > >>>bested
> > >>>>> him
> > >>>>> > easily and proceeded to beat him to a pulp. They smashed his
> face
> > >with
> > >>>>> their
> > >>>>> > boots, and kicked and beat his body brutally with clubs,
leaving
> him
> > >>>for
> > >>>>> > dead. When the police happened to find him lying in the road
> they
> > >>>>assumed
> > >>>>> he
> > >>>>> > was dead. On the way to the morgue a policeman heard him gasp
> for
> > >air,
> > >>>>and
> > >>>>> > they immediately took him to the emergency unit at the
hospital.
> > When
> > >>>he
> > >>>>> was
> > >>>>> > placed on a gurney a nurse remarked to her horror, that his
> young
> > man
> > >>>no
> > >>>>> > longer had a face. Each eye socket was smashed, his skull,
legs,
> and
> > >>>>arms
> > >>>>> > fractured, his nose literally hanging from his face, all is
> teeth
> > >were
> > >>>>> gone,
> > >>>>> > and his jaw was almost completely torn from his skull. He spent
> over
> > >a
> > >>>>> year
> > >>>>> > in the hospital and although his life was spared his face was
> > >terribly
> > >>>>> > disfigured and disgusting to look at.
> > >>>>> > He was no longer the handsome youth that everyone admired. When
> the
> > >>>>young
> > >>>>> > man started to look for work again he was turned down by
> everyone.
> > >One
> > >>>>> > potential employer suggested to him that he join the freak show
> at
> > >the
> > >>>>> > circus as The Man Who Had No Face. And he did this for a while.
> He
> > >was
> > >>>>> still
> > >>>>> > rejected by everyone and no one wanted to be seen in his
> company.
> He
> > >>>had
> > >>>>> > thoughts of suicide. This went on for five years. One day he
> passed
> > a
> > >>>>> church
> > >>>>> > and sought some solace there. Entering the church he
encountered
> a
> > >>>>priest
> > >>>>> who
> > >>>>> > had seen him sobbing while kneeling in a pew. The priest took
> pity
> > on
> > >>>>him
> > >>>>> and
> > >>>>> > took him to the rectory where they talked at length. The priest
> was
> > >>>>> impressed
> > >>>>> > with him to such a degree that he said that he would do
> everything
> > >>>>> possible
> > >>>>> > for him that could be done to restore his dignity and life, if
> the
> > >>>young
> > >>>>> man
> > >>>>> > would promise to be the best Catholic he could be, and trust in
> > God's
> > >>>>> mercy
> > >>>>> > to free him from his torturous life. The young man went to Mass
> and
> > >>>>> communion
> > >>>>> > every day, and after thanking God for saving his life, asked
God
> to
> > >>>only
> > >>>>> give
> > >>>>> > him peace of mind and the grace to be the best man he could
ever
> be
> > >in
> > >>>>His
> > >>>>> > eyes. The priest, through his personal contacts was able to
> secure
> > >the
> > >>>>> > services of the best plastic surgeon in Australia. They would
be
> no
> > >>>cost
> > >>>>> to
> > >>>>> > the young man, as the doctor was the priest's best friend. The
> > >doctor,
> > >>>>> too,
> > >>>>> > was so impressed by the young man, whose outlook now on life,
> even
> > >>>>though
> > >>>>> he
> > >>>>> > had experienced the worst, was filled with good humor and love.
> The
> > >>>>> surgery
> > >>>>> > was a miraculous success. All the best dental work was also
done
> for
> > >>>>him.
> > >>>>> The
> > >>>>> > young man became everything he promised God he would be. He was
> also
> > >>>>> blessed
> > >>>>> > with a wonderful, beautiful wife and seven children, and
success
> in
> > >an
> > >>>>> > industry which would have been the furthest thing from his mind
> as
> a
> > >>>>> > career if
> > >>>>> > not for the grace of God and the love of the people who cared
> for
> > >him.
> > >>>>> > This
> > >>>>> > he acknowledges publicly.
> > >>>>> >
> > >>>>> > The young man????????????
> > >>>>> >
> > >>>>> > Mel Gibson.
> > >>>>> >
> > >>>>> > His life was the inspiration for his production of the movie
> "The
> > Man
> > >>>>> > Without A Face." He is to be admired by all of us as a God
> fearing
> > >>man,
> > >>>>> > a
> > >>>>> > political conservative, and an example to all as a true man of
> > >>courage.
[This message has been edited by ANGEL4U (edited September 05, 2000 at 06:12 PM).]
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