posted 02-09-2005 04:34 PM         

A young preacher was asked by a funeral director to hold a graveside
service for a man who died with no family or friends. The funeral was
held way back in the country and the young 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, the young preacher felt that he had done his duty
and he would leave with a renewed sense of purpose and dedication, in
spite of his tardiness.

As he got into his car, he overheard one of the workers talking to
another worker: "I've been putting in septic tanks for 20 years, and I
ain't never seen anything like that before. Sort of gives new meaning to
the term "Holy **** ."