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Christlike figure reminds us to live simply

By Jack Bray, Guest column
In print: Sunday, March 23, 2008

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When I first saw him, I thought I was seeing things.

"Please tell me," I half-jokingly whispered to my friends, "Jesus has not suddenly appeared in our midst."

Well, it wasn't a vision, but a wonderful surprise and a nice story for Lent. This guy that I saw when I lived in New York was not some unkempt, street-corner raving prophet. His name is Carl James Joseph (call him James) and he was barefoot, clean and clutching a Bible in one hand while holding a clean white blanket over his shoulder with the other. He was wearing a long, clean, white robe and had flowing hair with a full beard. He looked exactly — and I mean, exactly — like Jesus Christ as he is typically depicted.

I found out when I interviewed him that he's not a local loony tune. He takes no money. He has, however, accepted the kindness of strangers who offer food, lodging and sometimes travel. He's intelligent, soft-spoken, sincere and unassuming. He lives in complete trust that the Lord will provide.

For me, the burning question was "why?" Why, in the name of God, is he doing this? Well, obviously, he's doing it in the name of God.

It all started when he was a teenager in Toledo, Ohio. He felt "drawn to saints such as Francis of Assisi and the way they lived." So one day he did it. He bought a long white robe, blanket and Bible and took off, with no shoes and no money.

He has been to 13 countries and 47 states while walking barefoot. (He has been to Florida but not Pinellas County.) Early on, he discovered that his likeness had a great impact on those he met.

In Hazleton, Pa., where he walked in those first months, his Christlike appearance caused an "explosion of publicity," as he put it. It was then that he realized his mission was more than just living the life. It was sharing the faith with others who came to him because of whom he resembled.

The crowd he drew attracted some reporters, who filed a story on the AP wire that was picked up by news outlets, and the rest, as they say, is history. He has been on 20/20, in Time magazine, the Wall Street Journal and numerous other newspapers, and is the subject of a new documentary. Now, because he wanted to visit Saint Bernard's Abbey, he's staying here in Cullman, Ala., where I live. Lucky for me.

James is a walking reminder that life is simple if lived simply. God doesn't expect us to emulate James by getting rid of all our possessions and leaving home as barefoot apostles. But as James will tell you, God expects us to keep our priorities in order, to remember what's important in life. It's really that simple.

None of us can possibly imagine how he felt as he walked down the road that day almost 17 years ago. He told me that he trusted the Lord to provide and he has never been disappointed.

For more about this strange yet inspiring man, go online and visit

thejesusguy.com.

Jack Bray, a former resident of Dunedin, now lives Cullman, Ala.