Return of J
It's really late, and I should be sleeping right now - but I can't. Been up thinking about the day that just happened.
It started normally enough....a trip to church with the family - but punctuated by the return of someone I hadn't seen in a while. A young man that I mentored a while back - J - walked up to me while we passed the peace during the service. It was good to see him - and he wanted to talk. He was having troubles at home with a sick mom, relationship issues and a life that had seemingly fallen into chaos. He was growing up very fast, but under intense stress for someone so young - so, he had almost given up.
Thankfully, he didn't.
When I met J for the first time, he was participating in a church mentorship program that I was involved in - and so we connected. I went over to his house, met his family and took him out geocaching one Saturday afternoon. We had a great time together - and spoke for a while afterwards about his goals and beliefs. J was a determined athlete that played baseball and football in high school. He was a natural, of sorts. I remember attending one of his high school football games in Vancouver...and how he walked over to me on the sidelines after it was over. I took a photo of him - dressed in a purple football uniform, helmet in his hand.
After that first series of interactions with him, I became a father for the first time - and was focused almost entirely on that and work. I didn't see him much - except for when he would come to church for a visit. Every time I saw him, he kept getting bigger, eventually shooting up past six feet. He had a steady girlfriend and was having success as a college baseball player. Our meetings were glad, sincere and full of promises to call and get together again - maybe go geocaching.
Unfortunately, it never seemed to happen again for us, and life moved forward - as it will.
Until yesterday. After our reunion, we talked in pews and then moved downstairs for more conversation and catching up. He had needed to leave college to help at home, and was struggling to keep things together. It was very rough for him, and it sounded like he needed someone to listen.
There was a silver lining though...something that had brought him back to church that day.
After giving almost giving up, he had received a wake-up call from folks close to him - and decided to start playing baseball again in practice sessions with his old high school coach. From out of these practices (and with some help from a former MLB pitcher whom he had trained with), J has been presented with a chance to work out for some pro baseball scouts on Tuesday. It's a big opportunity that couldn't come at a better time for him and his family.
After our time at church, I invited him over. We went out and made sure he had what was needed to prepare for his chance - and to help his family. A cell phone for important calls, a full tank of gas - and some running money.
It was a gut reaction....a need...and at that moment, I felt like my dad.
Godspeed J.
It started normally enough....a trip to church with the family - but punctuated by the return of someone I hadn't seen in a while. A young man that I mentored a while back - J - walked up to me while we passed the peace during the service. It was good to see him - and he wanted to talk. He was having troubles at home with a sick mom, relationship issues and a life that had seemingly fallen into chaos. He was growing up very fast, but under intense stress for someone so young - so, he had almost given up.
Thankfully, he didn't.
When I met J for the first time, he was participating in a church mentorship program that I was involved in - and so we connected. I went over to his house, met his family and took him out geocaching one Saturday afternoon. We had a great time together - and spoke for a while afterwards about his goals and beliefs. J was a determined athlete that played baseball and football in high school. He was a natural, of sorts. I remember attending one of his high school football games in Vancouver...and how he walked over to me on the sidelines after it was over. I took a photo of him - dressed in a purple football uniform, helmet in his hand.
After that first series of interactions with him, I became a father for the first time - and was focused almost entirely on that and work. I didn't see him much - except for when he would come to church for a visit. Every time I saw him, he kept getting bigger, eventually shooting up past six feet. He had a steady girlfriend and was having success as a college baseball player. Our meetings were glad, sincere and full of promises to call and get together again - maybe go geocaching.
Unfortunately, it never seemed to happen again for us, and life moved forward - as it will.
Until yesterday. After our reunion, we talked in pews and then moved downstairs for more conversation and catching up. He had needed to leave college to help at home, and was struggling to keep things together. It was very rough for him, and it sounded like he needed someone to listen.
There was a silver lining though...something that had brought him back to church that day.
After giving almost giving up, he had received a wake-up call from folks close to him - and decided to start playing baseball again in practice sessions with his old high school coach. From out of these practices (and with some help from a former MLB pitcher whom he had trained with), J has been presented with a chance to work out for some pro baseball scouts on Tuesday. It's a big opportunity that couldn't come at a better time for him and his family.
After our time at church, I invited him over. We went out and made sure he had what was needed to prepare for his chance - and to help his family. A cell phone for important calls, a full tank of gas - and some running money.
It was a gut reaction....a need...and at that moment, I felt like my dad.
Godspeed J.
