My Friend, Rocky

John 3:16 TPT

For this is how much God loved the world—He gave His one and only, unique Son as a gift. So now everyone who believes in Him will never perish but experience everlasting life. 

Living in Central Maine all of my growing up years, before I went off to college, I would have to ride on a long bus ride to my school a couple of towns over. Before that, during elementary school, the ride wasn’t quite that long, just around a few loops to pick up some other kids who lived on some back dirt roads on old farmsteads. Rocky was a neighbor who lived down the dirt road a ways from where Gramp and Grama Small’s home was. It was always a pretty sure thing that the kids that lived on that particular road would ride the same bus I would be riding. Needless to say, we collectively, over our educational journey together from one grade on to another, rode thousands of miles on those old school buses. Rocky was one of those kids, just one grade behind me. He came from a large family with several older brothers, Bret, I think who was two years older than him, and some other brothers I believe, who were a lot older and even were away in the military. Grampa would pick them up for church occasionally as their mom, Peggy, liked to attend services. They often would be in our church’s VBS or maybe part of a Christmas program, at least when they were younger. As Rocky grew older, I don’t ever remember him being a part of any youth group or after school Bible club. He was just Rocky, a kid I rode the bus with. Then our high school years were upon us. We were probably in our 10th and 11th years, although the exact year is a little vague to me now. Rocky often would sleep on the bus as I have already stated, our rides were quite time consuming, especially when we were in high school. I remember Rocky becoming even more withdrawn than usual, sitting by himself as far away from everyone else as possible with his head down. I often wondered what was up with him. Then this one day the news came and hit me like a hot, piercing bullet. Rocky had driven one of his family’s cars at a very high speed right into a big tree! I was in agonized shock! How could this be? I had just ridden with him yesterday on the bus! My mind began to try to remember if I possibly knew what was troubling him so badly that he wanted to end his life. Honestly, I never really got to know him that well, other than to say hi off and on. My heart sank upon hearing the news and even more so grief filled my heart as I realized, even though Rocky had occasionally over his childhood had heard the Gospel story, yet where was he now? Heaven or hell? Guilt flooded my young soul because I knew I had not made any effort to ever talk to Him about truly having a relationship with Jesus, that He loved him deeply, and could help him with anything. Rocky was with us all one day, and sadly gone the next. 

What about you? Do you have anyone in the realm of your influence who maybe you could share the love of Jesus with? Don’t take it for granted that they will always be there, because they may not. Ask the Holy Spirit to open your eyes and understanding of those all around you every day. He will lead you and help you to see opportunities to befriend and love others to Himself. He died for each and everyone of us, including the Rockys of the word. Blessings to you this day.