Traveling the Rock Road

Got a buddy named Don that I’ve been friends with for nearly 60 years. Over the course of time, he’s become more like a brother than a friend. We’ve spent a good deal of time over the years hanging out, traveling together, playing music and just talking. Don was one of the 1^st people I knew that got caught up in the Jesus Movement, and at the young age of 17 took Christ to be his Savior and has been strong in his faith ever since. But there was one characteristic I believe he was born with.

My Brother is a full-fledged pacifist. He never was one of those guys that felt he had to fight to prove his manhood. There were times when someone would try to push him into an altercation, all to no avail. Don always held to the belief that any conflict two people had with each other could be talked out peacefully; therefore, no matter what you did to him you could not force him to throw hands, as one of my sons would say. That is, until one fateful day. Moving from the Fremont, Ohio area in 1972 he found himself attending college in Grand Rapids Michigan, where he fell in love with the region. Upon graduation he wasn’t able to find work in his area of study. So, to generate a cashflow he took up contracting and construction. Within a few years he gained enough understanding and abilities to carry the title “Master Carpenter.”

It was a bright and beautiful day in GR. Don was working at someone’s home when he realized he was going to have to go to the hardware stores for supplies. The place was only a few miles away, but to get there and back he had to drive through a section of the city known for crime and violence. One of the areas you don’t stop and most certainly you keep the car doors locked. He had no issues or saw any problems on the way which he was thankful for. Gathering all the material he would need, he loaded his work van and headed back to the worksite.

On the way he passed a city park where he noticed a group of rough looking young people. At first he wasn’t sure what they were doing, that is until he got closer and saw they had a young man down on the ground, kicking and beating him with their hands and anything they could get to use. It turned Don’s stomach to see the cruelty that was happening to this kid. But he felt the best thing for him to do is to keep driving; maybe call the police when he could. But something began to eat at him. He had seen the news where the body of some poor soul would be found at a park just like the one he passed. That thought was now eating at his very core and he knew what he had to do. Wheeling his van around he pulled a U-turn and headed back to the park. He didn’t know what he was going to do, only that he had to do something. Reaching the park, he drove up over the curve and right at the mob that was gathered there. Climbing out of his van and wielding his best claw hammer he waded into the middle of the group swinging for all he was worth to save that boy. A switch had been turned on in Donnie, and the most prolific pacifist I had ever known, was now in attack mode. “CHARGE!!”

Charles Stanley: “When God speaks, oftentimes His voice will call for an act of courage on our part.”

Joshua 1:9: “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”

I don’t believe my Brother knew exactly what he was going to do when he pulled that “Jim Dandy to Rescue” stunt. But he was sure of two things; he had to do something, and secondly, God was with him no matter the outcome. When he rushed the mob, he caused enough chaos and damage for the young man to get on his feet and run. Unfortunately, Donnie was overpowered, his hammer was taken away and now he was getting pummeled big time. They had his arms pinned and he was taking a beating. That is until he was able to reach in his pocket to retrieve a retractor knife. He stabbed one of his attackers in the leg which made the others back up, giving him opportunity to get back to his van and escape. He took a bandana and pressed it hard against his head in an effort to stop the bleeding from a severe injury he had sustained.

Several blocks away, he caught up with the guy he had helped, still running with everything he had. Don chuckled a bit as he said under his breath, “Thanks for helping me out, buddy, like I did you!” But truthfully, that didn’t really matter to Don. What was important was God put him in a place where he was the only person that could help. And no matter what was going to happen, his heart was telling him he had to do something. And he listened.

In the 70 plus years my Brother has been a “Traveler of the Rock Road,” this situation was the only one I know of where he ever raised his hands in violence. Afterwards he went back to his conviction of being a pacifist. So, does that mean he betrayed himself and went against his principles? Certainly not!  He knew God had put him in that exact spot for a cause worthy of setting aside earthy values and doing the will of the Father. Couldn’t be prouder of you, Brother!

When he finally went to see a doctor who sewed up the large gash in his head, he smiled at Don and said, “I get the idea your more upset with losing your hammer than the beating you took.” Don’s response, “Well Yeah!  Have you priced a good claw hammer these days?!!”

See ya next time.