An elderly man, who lived his entire life in his beloved Detroit, died one day.

As he arrived at the pearly gates, he clutched a fist full of Belle Isle dirt. God welcomed him at the pearly gates and said, ‘Welcome to heaven, now put down the dirt and let’s go inside.’

The elderly man said, ‘Put down the dirt? Never! Detroit is my home and heart, I shall never let go.’ God, taken aback, went back through the pearly gates alone.

A few decades went by and God walked out to see the man. This time, God brought two bottles of Stroh’s beer and the two talked and laughed for a while. Again, God invited the man to put down the dirt and to accompany him through the pearly gates. Once again, the man said, ’Never!’

A few more decades passed when God sent one of the man’s relatives – a granddaughter to try to persuade the elderly man to come in. ‘Let’s go grandfather – there are so many of our relatives to see!’ she said. This time, the elderly man relented, and as the earth dropped from his fist, he passed through those pearly gates.

Then, as he looked out at the sight before him, the elderly man dropped to his knees - for he was standing at the entrance of Belle Isle.

Friends, we cannot accept the new without releasing the old. Change is always difficult, but when we trust the Lord’s voice, taking that step of faith, we are usually rewarded.