On June 30, 1973, I married my high school sweetheart. We were privileged to spend our honeymoon in Britain.

The ancient city of York was on our itinerary. Founded by the Romans in A.D. 71, it was there that we met a retired missionary from China, Mrs. Elsie Clark. She had a Bible bookstore, and for many years our publishing company provided books for her shop.

She wasn’t much more than 4 feet tall. But her eyes were electric blue, she had cherubic cheeks, and her smile hinted she had a secret to share.
A motto hung over her fireplace: “Keep the home near heaven; let it face the Father’s House,” advice we embrace.

Her place was on Stonegate, York’s most famous and busiest street. It roughly follows the Praetorian Way of the old Roman city.

Did I say Mrs. Clark was a retired missionary? Hardly retired! Every person we met in town she first introduced to us, and then to her Lord Jesus.

“I hope you don’t mind the delay,” she said. “It would be quite rude, wouldn’t it, if I didn’t mention who you were to my friends. And since the Lord Jesus is with me, I feel I should mention Him too.”

After lunch at the famous Terry’s Tearoom, she took us to visit York Minster. It’s massive – almost four times the area of Westminster Abbey. Picture the little lady standing in the middle of the largest medieval Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe. Then she quietly told us the following.

In the summertime, York performs theater called The York Mystery Plays, 48 plays in all. They purport to tell the Bible’s stories from Creation to the Last Judgment.

“But,” said the old missionary, “I’m afraid the thousands who attend never meet the true Lord Jesus.”

So she devised a plan. Handing out gospel papers at the university, she met some courageous young people willing to work with her. Together they began to pray.

Soon a vicar arrived in town who belonged to the High Church. He actually preached the gospel, that all are hopeless sinners needing salvation, and Christ, by His atoning death, is the world’s only Savior. “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18).

Those who know the High Church might consider this a miracle itself! He agreed to give gospel talks during the week.

Then she visited York Minster to ask if she might use the building that week – and was granted permission!

Each day, as the crowds finished watching a play, the students directed them to York Minster to hear the true message of salvation in Christ. All week the building was filled, everyone hearing “the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

The title? Well, it rains often in York. Mrs. Clark had an umbrella, commonly called there a “brolly.” It was her parable. It looked quite fine – until opened. A holey brolly, it was useless to stop raindrops but ideal to illustrate hearts.

Do you seem whole on the outside, but you’re wounded on the inside? “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart” (1 Samuel 16:7).

Mrs. Clark’s secret? Jesus knows all about you and loves you just the same. He “heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds” (Psalm 147:3).

Jabe Nicholson has temporarily stopped in Starkville on his way to heaven. One shout and he’s out! Reach him at [email protected] or visit www.uplook.tv.

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