From Pg. 264 Stories for the Heart

Appointment with Death

Sermon illustration used by Peter Marshall

Retold by Alice Gray

There is an old legend about a rich merchant in Baghdad who sent his servant to the market. While he was at the marketplace, he was jostled by someone in the crowd. When he turned around he saw a woman in a long black cloak and knew it was Death. The servant ran home to his master and in a trembling voice told him about the encounter and how Death had looked at him and made a threatening gesture.

The servant begged his master to loan him a horse so he could ride to Samarra and hide so Death would not find him. The master agreed and the servant galloped away.

Later the merchant went down to the marketplace and saw Death standing nearby. The merchant asked, "Why did you make a threatening gesture to my servant and frighten him!"

"That was not a threatening gesture," Death replied. "It was just that I was startled to see him in Baghdad because I have an appointment with him tonight in Samarra!"

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Note: I got this story from a gentlemen who has five purple hearts and three bronze stars named Gomillion... Go figure!

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