© 2006 SeanDietrich.com

A GUY NAMED FRANCIS
By Sean Dietrich

Long ago there lived a man named Francis from the Italian town of Assisi. History remembers him as “the little poor man.” He was born in the year 1182 in the town of Assisi, Italy. His father Bernadone was a very wealthy cloth merchant of Assisi. Francis was a very good-looking rich boy who never did without.

Francis grew up in a life of luxury and easiness. He spent most all of his money on extravagant pleasures. He used to drink wine and party with the young princes of Italy. Francis was a spoiled rich kid, who liked living wildly and partying hard.

THE DAY IT CHANGED

One day Francis was joking and laughing with his friends when a beggar came crawling along asking for money. Francis reached in his pocket and gave the poor beggar everything he had in his pocket. Francis’ friends made fun of him for being so tender hearted. While they were joking, something was happening inside of Francis. Seeing the beggar moved him to compassion for the poor. Francis was so moved that he soon began giving heaps of money to the poor people in his town. Francis’ father was enraged after hearing that Francis was wasting all his hard earned money.

A few years later, Francis became bedridden with an illness. He was about to die. However, the Lord healed him because he was going to do some incredible things in Francis’ life. After Francis was healed, he was completely changed from the inside out. He immediately began to pray about what the Lord wanted him to do. He soon had an incredible vision of Jesus. This changed him yet again. From that moment on, Francis decided to dedicate his life to telling people about God’s love, and decided to live a life free from material love like Jesus talked about.

IT WASN"T EASY

Francis told his parents of his decision to follow Jesus in simplicity. They were incredibly upset with their son and very angry. But sure enough, Francis gave up his material goods and luxuries and embarked on a quest to learn about God, and serve him. He sold his clothes and his possessions and gave what he had to the poor. Francis’ father was disgusted with his son. "Is this the gratitude you show to me?” He said. “I worked hard all these years gaining our wealth, and you are stupidly wasting it on these miserable wretches!"

Francis' friends mocked at him and teased him. His father even kicked him out of the house! From then on, Francis lived like a beggar. His old friends soon hated him; they even threw stones and mud at him whenever they saw him in town. Francis learned to bear everything in patience. He chose to wear simple clothing, and live very modestly.

Moving out of the city, Francis made his home in a cave within the mountains of Assisi, and he spent two years doing nothing but learning about God by prayer and solitude. Some people heard about what he was doing and they would bring him food, but sometimes, Francis would go without for long periods of time. His only desire was to find Jesus and learn about him. He had no desire to gain material goods.

Francis learned humility during those two years. He learned to love all of God’s creatures. He loved birds and animals. He loved the depressed and the outcasts especially.

SPREADING GREAT NEWS

Francis began going from village to village happily telling people the love of God. He invited people to join him by selling their possessions and simply following Jesus if they were willing. In the same way, Jesus himself had encouraged his own disciples to do this very thing only 1000 years earlier. Apparently Francis had found the real Jesus!
Bernard, a rich man in the town of Assisi, was very much interested in following Jesus with Francis. He sold all of his belongings and joined Francis. He was the first companion Francis had. Eventually, eleven others also joined Francis, until there were 13 all together. They freely gave all their wealth to the poor. Francis and his friends went all over Italy passionately preaching the good news, teaching and healing people wherever they went. Just like Jesus did.

The good news of Jesus soon spread all over Europe and soon people were very interested in this man Francis. People all over were calling him the little poor man from Assisi. Francis was a man who LIVED the good news of Jesus.

Many people began following in the footsteps of Jesus just like Francis did and began doing many wonderful things.
Francis died of illness in 1228. Never was a man more excited to leave his earthly tent and meet Jesus face to face.