Traveling the Rock Road

Last week I spoke of a situation where I learned a lesson in life in the arena of owning rental property. Had that been the only one I needed, things might have been better from that point on; unfortunately that would not be the case.

After the encounter with the couple who stuck us deeply financially by not paying the rent and the damages they did to the apartment, I swore to get tougher on who I’d trust from then on. But it is hard to break some habits, like being a sucker for a sad story. Again and again someone would approach me who needed a hand to get back on their feet, and again and again I would forgo the 1^st month’s rent and/or the security deposit, only to get farther behind on my bills. Over a period of time the situation got worse and I got behind on the mortgage. To try and make up the difference in money, I would transfer from my personal account to offset the loss on the apartments, which then only resulted in hardship on me and my family. I began working extra jobs and doing everything possible to bring in more money. When the end came of my dream of financial bliss from investing in real estate, I was so far in debt I figured I’d have to work until the age of 100 to get out from under everything! Besides owing several financial institutions, I got behind in taxes and the big boys at the I.R.S. froze all my assets until something could be worked out.

One late night while sitting in my car dejected with life and depressed to almost a point that I didn’t want to live anymore, I let God have it with both barrels.  “God, why did you let this happen?!! You know I was going to build a business that would bring you glory, and now look at the mess I’m in! I love you, how could you do this to me and my family?!!”

Some time passed, but then it was like an ever so small voice inside of me began to speak softly in my ear. “How did I do this to you? When exactly did you ever come and talk to me about this plan? When did you ask for my guidance in making decisions and strength to see you through? This is the 1^st time you’ve even talked to me about any of this. I do feel your pain, my son; but who really put you in this position?”

Emotions began to overwhelm me so much I had to pull the car over and let the floodgate of tears pour forth. The truth finally hit full force and I found myself guilty of something I never liked to see in others–blaming God when I never included Him in to begin with. I forged straight ahead alone and then expected Him to clean up the mess, as if He owed that to me. It wasn’t God or others that put me in the position I was in, it was the man in the mirror.

Proverbs 3:5-6 – “Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.”

I have never seen my Lord as the big candy man in the sky waiting to give me all I want, but I have been guilty in the past of not talking to Him when I should have. And if I’ve learned anything it’s bring “everything” to God, because He wants the best for me. Maybe not riches, but the best in His will.

Believe me over the years whenever I bring situations to my Lord seeking His will and guidance, He’s never let me down, nor will He with you. Guaranteed!!

One writer puts it like this, “If you have arrived at your decision with the sincere intention of pleasing the heart of God, incorporating Biblical principles and wise counsel, you can proceed with confidence knowing that God will work out his purposes through your decision.”

James 1:5 – “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”

The next number of years weren’t easy, but this “Traveler of the Rock Road” found the journey less difficult with help of the Lord and the incredible wife and children He gave me who worked as a team to get us past the hard times, but that’s another incredible story itself.

Got a major decision facing you? Here’s my advice: Plan it out, but mostly PRAY it out! I’m betting you won’t go wrong.

See ya next time

It was back in the 80s that after watching some very convincing infomercials on how rich I could get that I invested in real estate, specifically rental properties. Now I don’t want to say those TV ads lied, I figure some made their fortune this way. But for this man it didn’t turn out very well, perhaps my approach was all wrong; here’s an example.

We had just purchased a 6 unit apartment complex and were excited to get on the road to riches, well at least enough to pay college tuition for the kids. A young couple with a young child stopped by one day when I was working outside. They had just moved to the community thinking they had a place to stay with relatives only to find that not to be the case plus penniless because it took all the money they had to get there. “We were able to get food vouchers from the city trustee for the grocery store, and he told us to come see you and he’d give me a rent one if I would let them live in one of the units. As soon as I get work I’ll pay you myself,” the husband explained. “This was awesome!” I thought. God is giving me a chance to help to someone with the apartments. I rented them a partially furnished one bedroom that I had when I realized they didn’t own much more than the clothes on their back. When I got home, I told Cathy all about it and we also called some friends informing them of this couple’s plight. By the next day we had gathered clothes and toys for the little one, dishes, towels, linens and many other staples of home life to take to these kids. They were so overwhelmed by the gifts and generosity the young mother cried and the dad nearly wore my hand out from shaking it. We spent some good time talking about overcoming hard times and how the Lord can be a great help in achieving that goal. When I left that afternoon I felt more blessed than they for God allowing me and others to get these two on their feet and pointed in the right direction; at least that’s what I thought.

A month passed and I would drop in to see how the young folks were doing. The husband would tell me about how he couldn’t find a job but was trying. Okay, that was good enough for me; I spoke to the city trustee and he gave me another voucher for rent. Another month went by and still no change. This time I was being told he had one job but since they didn’t have a car was late one day and they fired him. Then he got another one only to be accused of a bad attitude and let go. “No one wants to give us a break like you have,” he told me and once again how thankful they were for all I had done. Okay.

The next time I went to see the trustee he told me he wouldn’t give anymore vouchers. “They’re not even trying and they’re causing trouble around here; got caught stealing in one store and told they could never enter again. Then they got loud and picked a fight at the pizza place. Sorry I can’t do anything more.” I was upset with what he told mostly about the pizza shop; for someone who was flat broke, where were they getting money for pizza and beer? When I asked about this the man said he was able to turn in aluminum cans he found to get them a few bucks, then showed a pile he had out back of the apartment along with a lot of other junk. I stayed calm as I told him he had to get all that stuff out of there, and I would give them one month free rent but they would have to start paying then. Once again thank you, thank you, thank you; and we are so blessed to have you in our lives. I guess so but I sure wasn’t feeling that way about them anymore.

One month passed and no money, two and no money. I would go by and couldn’t catch them there and the apartment was looking terrible from the way they lived. On the third month I felt I had no choice and sent them a registered letter notifying then that they had to leave. Finally receiving a phone call from the husband he apologized they missed me and promised just one more month and they would make everything right with me.  “Friend I’m sorry but I can no further,” I told him “You’re going to have to move.”  All those words of appreciation and gratitude for all I had done were now replaced with every curse word and name this guy could think to call me. Then of course the dagger he flung before hanging up was; “and you call yourself a Christian!” Gotta love it.

When I entered the apartment after they moved the odor nearly turned my stomach inside out. In every room he had placed foul material that reeked beyond description. Then there were broken windows, ruined furniture and garbage thrown everywhere. The cost to restore the unit ran into the thousands with much of the cost coming out of my pocket. I was devastated and sick physically, emotionally and even spiritually. “God why did this happen?!!” “Didn’t we show them the love you wanted us to, what went wrong?” The answer would come several years later.

I think I’ve used the quote by Chuck Swindoll before, but it’s worth revisiting. “The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company … a church … a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we will embrace for that day. We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude … I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me, and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you … we are in charge of our Attitudes.”

When I chose to follow the ways of Christ, I also made a commitment that no matter what came, be it good or bad, still I would follow Him. How someone else reacts to that, or should I say uses that for the wrong reasons, I have no control over. The only person I can control is the one staring at me in mirror.

Knowing a truth like that, this “Traveler of the Rock Road” makes no apologies nor has any ill feeling when he is called on to do good in the name of the Lord and is met with evil of any kind.

Hebrews 12:1-3 (NIV) Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Well as you might guess I didn’t stay in the apartment business long (but that’s another story) and yes, I’m still a softie for a sad luck story. So if I ever do get back into the rental property business, you now know someone who will weep tears with you if you are downtrodden. And will do all he can to help you out of that oppressed state; just so long as you can supply three references and pass a credit check!

See ya next time.

Came across an old picture the other day of when I was just a boy. I was with a group from my Sunday school class and we had a Bible we bought from money we collected and we were presenting it to the folks at the local nursing home. Had to smile remembering that time in life and the kids I knew back then. Then I noticed this lady standing with our group, and my smile got broader, and a little later a few happy tears.

Her name was Billie, a good ole southern gal who we were privileged to have as our Sunday school teacher. Billie was one of those special folks everyone loved, the main reason I’m sure was because she was going to love you first no matter who you were. She had a word of encouragement for every person she’d meet; if you couldn’t find a smile that day you’d be wearing a big one after a few minutes spent with this dear lady. As a teacher she didn’t overwhelm you with her knowledge of the Bible, but what she taught she believed, and lived.

In my teen years I went though a time of bitterness with life and most people in general. My attitude was a bad one with a dark cloud seemingly hanging over my life; I didn’t know how to shake it and frankly didn’t know if I wanted to. While walking along a shopping center in my hometown I looked in the window of one stores and saw a familiar face that made me want to stop and say something, but I chose to keep going.

I was just a few feet past this establishment when I heard a voice with a Southern accent behind me, “John David!” Uh oh.  Other than my beloved mother there was only one person in the entire world that called me by first and middle name–Billie. I had changed a lot and was sure she would recognize me when I passed. When I turned to face her, my thought was a quick hello, good to see you and then keep moving. Well to put it like she would have, “that dog don’t hunt!” Before I could say a word, she said, “You put out that cigarette and get in here right now!”

I could have said I was too busy, but from the look on her face and those hands on her hips my mind told me, “You better just shut up and get in there.” As soon as we got in the store it was a big hug, that familiar smile that I l came to love and the type of words that only Billie knew how to give all the time–encouraging ones. We talked a bit about the old days, the people we knew and how it had been so long since we had seen each other. She then asked what I was doing now, and why didn’t I stop in to see her. With head hanging down and a little embarrassment in my voice I answered. “Well Billie, I’ve kinda changed and haven’t been to church in a long time, guess I didn’t want you to see me like this and wasn’t sure you’d want to see me either. I felt two fingers reach under my chin to push my head up so she could look me in the eye. “John David, have you forgotten one of the most important lessons I taught you?” My mind immediately went into scan mode in hopes of remembering what she might be talking about. Before I could give it much thought she told me, with a gentle smile on her face; “No matter what, God still loves you and so do I.”

“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Billie reminded me that God may not be happy with some of the choices I was making, but that sure didn’t mean He no longer loved me. He waits for all His children to turn to Him and His open arms. He’s not in the business of ever leaving or forsaking the ones He loves, just like our gal Billie.

As Danny Gokey puts it, “I can’t brag about my love for God because I fail Him daily, but I can brag about His love for me because it NEVER FAILS!!!”

From that point on whenever I was close to her shop, I would stop by and always find other there visiting for a healthy dose of laughter and sunshine.  A few year back this fellow “Traveler of the Rock Road” was called home to Heaven, leaving so many of us sad at her departure, yet richer for having her touch each of our lives in that special way that only she could do–with a love that never stopped.

Now I hold strong to the belief that someday I will enter Heaven to the welcoming arms of my Lord, and also get to see so many precious folks I know that went there ahead of me. And while checking things out I won’t be surprised to hear a voice with a Southern accent call out to me, “John David!” and possibly with tears in my eyes (as I have right now remembering this dear saint), I’ll run to get my hug and tell her “See, I didn’t forget about that love that never fails.” Knowing Billie she’ll probably say with a smile, “Why I knew that all along.”

Lord, please send us more Billies, to teach us of your unfailing love.

See ya next time.

Hello all! Hope everyone had blessings come their way since the last time I wrote. That’s something I pray for whenever I post a story here on “Traveling the Rock Road,” that God would bless you in some way with whatever He’s laid on my heart to write.

This last week has been incredibly, but wonderfully busy. My Lady and I went away for a few days to be alone so we could talk and pray about an important change getting ready to happen in our lives. Please pray with us that we will be sensitive to God’s leading in this matter. Besides this we celebrated Cathy’s birthday which was a grand time that we spent together. Then this Tuesday we will celebrate our 42^nd anniversary, an event I’m sure you know is very, very special to us; something that I have been thankful for every day of our lives together.

So I didn’t get time to write as I usually do, but I wanted to share a few thought from another writer on what makes a good marriage from a biblical point of view.

I hope you will take a moment to read these and perhaps find something to add to your marriage that will make it happier and perhaps even better, stronger!

Here are just 10 Bible verses that clue us in on how a godly marriage should work:

Never bring up mistakes of the past.

Stop criticizing others or it will come back on you. If you forgive others, you will be forgiven (Luke 6:37).

Neglect the whole world rather than each other.

And how do you benefit if you gain the whole world but lose your own soul in the process? (Mark 8:36)

Never go to sleep with an argument unsettled.

And don’t sin by letting anger gain control over you. Don’t let the sun go down while you are still angry (Ephesians 4:26).

At least once a day, try to say something complimentary to your spouse.

Gentle words bring life and health; a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit (Proverbs 15:4).

Never meet without an affectionate welcome.

Kiss me again and again, your love is sweeter than wine (Song of Solomon 1:2).

“For richer or poorer” – rejoice in every moment that God has given you together.

A bowl of soup with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate (Proverbs 15:17).

If you have a choice between making yourself or your mate look good, choose your mate.

Do not withhold good from those who deserve it when it’s in your power to help them (Proverbs 3:27).

If they’re breathing, your mate will eventually offend you. Learn to forgive.

I am warning you, if another believer sins, rebuke him; then if he repents, forgive him. Even if he wrongs you seven times a day and each time turns again and asks forgiveness, forgive him (Luke 17:3, 4).

Don’t use faith, the Bible, or God as a hammer.

God did not send His Son into the world to condemn it, but to save it (John 3:17).

Let love be your guidepost.

Love is patient and kind. Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. Love does not demand its own way. Love is not irritable and it keeps no record of when it has been wronged (1 Cor. 13:4, 5).

Blessed life, my dear friends,

See ya next time.

I believe the main reason I saw my Great Aunt Pearl as the best teacher I had in my day was because of her ability to explain in ways I could always understand. That included subjects that didn’t make sense that is until she explained them in the manner that only she could.

We were sitting at the table talking about my mom who had just come off a 12-hour shift at the bakery she worked for. Mom spent many a long hour there doing all she could to make a living for us. On this day when she got home she made it as far as the sofa before falling asleep from exhaustion. Pearl didn’t see a reason to wake her so covering her with a blanket we moved to the kitchen so she wouldn’t hear us. “Pearl,” I said, “I hate seeing mom like this. I wish she didn’t have to work so hard.” What I was really saying is I wish she had someone to take care of her like most of my friends who had both a mother and father. The man whose name I carry made mom a lot of promises that is until she became pregnant and he left town never to return again. She had dated a couple of other men, but never seemed to find one that was interested in a serious relationship so she chose to stay single.

Because mom didn’t make good money, even with all the overtime, we lived with Aunt Pearl. On this day she sat quietly for the longest time just staring at her coffee cup and then occasionally at me. Then she began to speak; “There was one boy who probably would have made your mom a good husband.” That took me by surprise as I had never heard of this man before now. Mom had lost her mother to cancer when she was a teenager and went to live with Pearl who raised her from that point on. “Will you tell me about him?” I asked, and she began again. “He was a boy a couple of years older than your mom who lived down the road. Hard worker who helped his dad farm and was trying to get on with the railroad; he and your mother would take long walks and I had a feeling something was brewing between them. Then one day they came to me saying they wanted to get married.” “Really?” I said with a little excitement in my voice. “What ever happened to this guy?” “He married someone else, has several kids and has a beautiful home back in West Virginia.” “So what happened that he didn’t marry mom?” Pearl didn’t answer right away, but when she did she looked me straight in the eye and said, “I told them no, they couldn’t get married.” “But why?” I questioned; it wasn’t making sense to me. Pearl continued on then, “They were too young back then, and your mom had special issues I had to consider also.” I knew what she meant, it was no secret that my mother lacked certain skills that kept her handicapped both physically and emotionally; this was another reason we lived with Pearl. Still I couldn’t help thinking what might have been; mom growing old with a man who loved and would take care of her, build her a nice home and even give her more children. Instead I could hear her snoring as she slept in the front room after an exhausting long day of hard work that paid her about a dollar more than minimum wage. So I questioned further, “Pearl do you ever wish you hadn’t told them no back then, that it was a mistake not to let them marry even though they were so young?” There wasn’t even a moment of hesitation in her voice. “No, it was the right thing to do then, and it’s still right today.” I felt just a little anger rising in me on behalf of my mother. “How can you say that with all that she’s gone through.?!!” For the first Pearl looked at me with a smile. “Had I said yes back then, we wouldn’t have you today.”

“You weren’t an accident. You weren’t mass produced. You aren’t an assembly-line product. You were deliberately planned, specifically gifted, and lovingly positioned on the earth by the Master Craftsman.” Max Lucado

More than once Pearl told me how tough they all had it, and it didn’t make things any easier when mom became pregnant with me. But going on she would add, “But I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you, that you were not a mistake, not a problem, you were a gift of God to your mom, and to me.” (Now argue that one, will you!)

What my Pearly Mae was telling me back then was we may not understand all circumstances, but one thing we can be sure of; God doesn’t make mistakes and He sure didn’t make one with each of us. We all have a purpose, perhaps it does not become fully clear until years later, but still we have something that makes us special.

Psalm 139:13-16 – “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

In my sixty plus years of “Traveling the Rock Road,” I have made my share of mistakes and at questioned often if I was doing the right thing. But through the simple words of someone who loved me I came to understand that I was special to certain ones and to my Lord, just like you.

Someone looks at you also and thinks, “Life without you? No Way” You Are Special!!

See ya next time.

Today I don’t have a regular posting for “Traveling the Rock Road” for three reasons. As we all know life can overwhelm us at times not allowing for the things we want to accomplish. Besides physical restraints on my time it’s also been a week where emotions have been strained, and that can leave us more exhausted than physical distress. Then there’s the fact that the story I was working on just wouldn’t come together as I had hoped. I knew what I wanted to say, but there seemed to be something missing and trying to force the words to come only makes it worse. Perhaps it’s God’s way of saying that’s not what I want you to write about this time. Maybe, maybe not, but I’ve learned at moments like this it’s best to back away and start fresh later. I hope you’ll understand.

What I’d like to do is leave you with a small story from one of my favorite authors, Max Lucado. On several occasions I’ve gone back and reread his words and they just seem to put things back in their proper perspective, at least for this man. Perhaps they will for you also.

“When my daughter was a toddler, I used to take her to a park not far from our apartment. One day as she was playing in a sandbox, an ice-cream salesman approached us. I purchased her a treat, and when I turned to give it to her, I saw her mouth was full of sand. Where I had intended to put a delicacy, she had put dirt.

Did I love her with dirt in her mouth? Absolutely. Was she any less of my daughter with dirt in her mouth? Of course not. Was I going to allow her to keep the dirt in her mouth? No way. I loved her right where she was, but I refused to leave her there. I carried her over to the water fountain and washed out her mouth. Why? Because I love her.

God does the same for us. He holds us over the fountain. “Spit out the dirt, honey,” our Father urges. “I’ve got something better for you.” And so he cleanses us of filth; immorality, dishonesty, prejudice, bitterness, greed. We don’t enjoy the cleansing; sometimes we even opt for the dirt over the ice cream. “I can eat dirt if I want to!” we pout and proclaim. Which is true—we can. But if we do, the loss is ours. God has a better offer.” ― Max Lucado, Just Like Jesus

Blessings to all you Awesome people!

See ya next time.

I could hear the frustration in his voice seconds after I answered the phone. It was something I was accustomed to since he seemed to call me every time he was upset about something, or at someone. This time was no different, only the situation and individual had changed. “I don’t know what I’m going to do with this lady!” He started. “I’ve tried hard to be nice to her but she always has a gripe about something I can’t control.” He was referring to an elderly woman who was neighbors to a house he rented out. It seemed she had a complaint about something over on his property that she felt was affecting her home. At first he found her issues quite harmless so with a smile and a kind word he would take care of the infraction in hopes it would please her and they could get along well. But the more he did the more she wanted with many of the demands stemming toward the ridiculous. Try as he did to fix little problems or explain to her why certain things could not be addressed, her persistence to complain would not stop or even slow down, and our friend’s patience was growing thin. Actually I was pretty impressed on how he had handled it so far; this was someone I knew had a temper and on more than one occasion had ripped others verbally once he got angry. But over time he had worked hard to throw off that attitude and was determined this ole gal was not going to get on his last nerve no matter what she did; well at least that’s what he had hoped.

“I can’t believe this crazy nutcase, she calls me at work to say a limb from my tree came down in her yard and wants me come right away to move it, otherwise she’s calling the authorities. I explained I’m at work and couldn’t take care of it until later. No way was she going to hear that, she wanted me there now! And I finally lost it! I got mad and yelled at her I would take care of it when I was ready and she just needed to get a life, take up a hobby or something to fill the idle time she spent causing trouble for others. And I hung up!” At the end of his rant I really didn’t have anything to say, that I hadn’t said before at least, so I continued to just listen. “I realize she’s old, lives alone and I’ve never seen anyone visit her, but still she doesn’t have to be that way, right?” “I mean a person can only take so much!” “Well maybe I shouldn’t have said some of things I did but a man can only take so much and this badgering needed to stop!” “I don’t know what to do, guess I’ll talk to you later.” And our call ended. Day or so later I received a text that said, “Going to talk to her and apologize.” I then sat back in my chair, and smiled.

“A moment of anger can destroy a lifetime of work; where as moment of love can break barriers that took a lifetime to build.”

When he cooled and began to think, as I knew he would, he began to realize that his crabby neighbor didn’t suddenly become that way; it was something that grew over time, perhaps because of some hurt in her life he knew nothing about. And the more he thought about it the more he started to see her in a different light than he had ever done before.

You see this young man used to have quite an anger issue, getting mad at the drop of a hat. But in recent years he had dedicated his life to make every effort to honor God with his words and his deeds. He realized that unless he harnessed that anger he would never be the man he wanted to be for his Lord. He found a place to learn ways to achieve the results he yearned for, with words like this;

James 1:19-20 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Proverbs 15:1 A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.

Proverbs 14:29 Whoever is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who has a hasty temper exalts folly.

And a favorite of mine:  Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

This “Traveler of the Rock Road” realizes that there will be people and situations that will try his patience for the rest of his life and he’ll have to find ways to deal with them. And that doesn’t mean he should never get angry, but decide how long will he hold on to that anger, what will he say during those moments, and what then will be right thing to do that will bring a better resolve, perhaps even healing. Like most of us he hasn’t come to the point of never getting mad, but I do believe he’s on the right track to getting control and even living a happier life.

I read the words on the text once more: “Going to talk to her and apologize.”

I wrote back only a few words;

I’m proud of you and love you,

Son.

See ya next time!!

This last Friday one of the greatest male influences on my life passed away at the age of 91. My Uncle Carl lived a rather colorful life compared to most of us, but never looked at it as anything special, that’s how he looked at everything in his life. This is a story I wrote about Carl a number of years back, kind of an explanation of why he truly was special to me, and many others.  Thanks for reading.

Carl spent a good portion of his life overseas first as a Marine during WW2 and then working government jobs in the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Okinawa and even Viet Nam. When I was a boy and mom would tell me her big brother Carl was stateside and would be visiting; it was like the President himself was coming to our house and my excitement would overflow. Growing up without a father, Carl became an important role model in my life.

In my mother’s latter days she, my wife Cathy and I traveled to Las Vegas to visit her big brother since they had not seen each other for many years. The trip was an enjoyable one seeing Carl and his wife Sue, fully enjoying their company. Carl and I spent a lot time talking about where life had led us and I loved to hear about his exploits both then and in the past. Being a man who always kept himself in top physical shape, even then in his golden years he had one room filled with exercise equipment that he still used religiously. “Carl, do you still power walk like you used to?” “No, I had to give that up,” he answered. “The neighborhood started changing a few years back, got a little rougher. A bunch of kids on the other side of the block started pelting me with eggs so I stopped.” Now I was angry, “Carl, that’s not right; show me where these kids live and I’ll get it straightened out with their parents, one way or another!” With a soft smile Carl looked at me and said, “Johnny, I’m fine, it no big deal.” No big deal?!! Sure seemed like it to me, but okay if that’s the way he saw it.

The next evening Carl took Cathy and me down to Fremont Street; where the original Vegas Strip was located, only now it was covered in a canopy where this awe inspiring laser projected show was shown accompanied by beautiful patriotic surround sound music. The whole production was captivating and when it was over we looked for Carl but couldn’t find him. When we did there was a small group of people having their picture taken with him and each shaking his hand before walking away. When we reached him he smiled, looked heaven ward and shook his head; “Happens all the time, I gotta get rid of this hat.” The hat he referred to was the one he was wearing with just a few words written on it; “Iwo Jima Survivor”

The Battle for Iwo Jima was the bloodiest conflict in the South Pacific during WW2, during the 5 week conquest to capture the island from the Japanese, American troops lost nearly 7,000 men with another 19,000 wounded. This single battle produced more Congressional Medal of Honor winners than any other conflict in our nation’s history. “Carl,” I said. “That hat signifies you as someone who went through and survived more hell than most of us will ever know; what you did for our county marks you as someone special and a hero to many.” We started to walk off but then he turned, looked me in the eyes and said those same words I heard from him about another conflict; “Johnny, it’s no big deal.”

Over the years since that moment, I have thought about his words often, how he described two clashes in his life, one major and one minor in the great scheme of things. And for both circumstances he summed them up with the exact same words and attitude, “It’s no big deal.”

C.S. Lewis said “What saves a man is to take a step. Then another step.” I have known few men like my Uncle Carl, who after going through great tribulation have survived mentally and well as physically because they have adopted this position; it’s behind you now, keep going, and don’t look back. He’s never realized the great lesson I learned from his words, “It’s no big deal.” He also taught me something about being a Christian from those words also.

“God knows our situation; He will not judge us as if we had no difficulties to overcome. What matters is the sincerity and perseverance of our will to overcome them.” Once again C.S. Lewis.

Carl’s attitude made me realize that’s how my Lord wants me to live, don’t get weighed down by my battles and scars that come from those battles; continue on, one step at a time, trusting in His love and will for me.

Romans 5:1-5:” Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”

This day I honor my Beloved Uncle Carl who has come to the end of his “Travels on the Rock Road,” but his legacy and approach to life will continue to live on in his children, grandchildren, and one nephew who loved him so much.

Here’s an excerpt from the Marine’s Prayer: “If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer.”

R.I.P. Uncle Carl,

And thank you.

See you all next week!!

Back in young days it wasn’t unusual for me to leave Ohio on a Friday evening, drive all night to reach my birth home in southern West Virginia the next morning. It was a trip I never wearied making for two reasons; the first to be in the midst of the hills I had loved all my life, and the second and most important was to be with family that lived there and that I loved so much. Perhaps some would say because I grew up with only a mother as immediate family is why these folks were so dear to me. Personally though, I think there was something, something special that set them apart especially the five I lovingly referred to as the “Old Guard.” These were four sisters and a brother, my great aunts and great uncle who took the place of grandparents in my life, and especially my beloved Aunt Pearl who was there me for during my childhood. These dear saints had a way of making you feel cared for by their kind mannerisms and down home Appalachian hospitality that permeated every inch of their existence. I used to love to sit and listen to their stories of growing up back in the early years of the 20^th Century, of living on little, but learning how to appreciate everything. Their simple grassroots ideologies on life made an impact on me to a point that I still practice many today.

So when I got the chance, a full tank of gas and few bucks in my pocket, it was “Country Roads take me Home.” Many of my friends couldn’t understand why I’d choose to spend hours driving down to WVa and back over hanging out with them and partying. “Have I ever told you about my family?” I’d ask. “Believe me you’d understand if you ever met them.” So began a time of taking friends with me to see and meet the people I considered more precious than wealth and fame. I loved to see their faces and listen to their expressions of awe from seeing the beauty of the mountains of Southern West Virginia for the first time. I would smile as they enjoyed incredibly tasty meals where most of what would be served was homegrown. But mostly I enjoyed watching my friends as they interacted, listened, and learned from the folks I so often bragged about; they learned I did not overstate a single word about the ones I called my people. At the end of the visit and we returned to our northern home, the conversation would be filled with everything my friends experienced from meeting my family and seeing the place I bragged on so much. One told me “I have never felt so loved outside my family as I did during this trip.” And each would have the same question, “So when can I come back with you again?”

“If instead of a gem, or even a flower, we should cast the gift of love into the hearts of others, that would be giving as the angels give.” George McDonald, paraphrased.

I wanted so much for my friends to experience first hand the people and place I spoke of so often with pride. But more than anything I wanted them to experience the love I cherished and received from the “Old Guard.” Each that came with me did just that, and each today would tell you it was something special.

Someone said “If you had the cure to cancer wouldn’t you share it? … You have the cure to death … get out there and share it.”

On Oct. 7, 1972, I experienced a new love, a different love even more powerful than the one I knew from my family. This love came to me as one that would go on forever, eternally; this love came in the form of a Savior. And this love is so special I just have to share it with others.

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

The Old Guard finished their Travels on the “Rock Road” many years ago; they’d all be over 100 years old today. But the love they instilled in me lives on and I know someday I’ll see them again. How do I know this? Because each of them knew the love of a Savior also, I’m betting that’s the basis of why they gave of themselves to others.

So if they were still around I’d probably say, “Have I told you about my family, they are so awesome and you would simply love them!”

Friend, have I told you about my Jesus? He is so awesome and He simply and completely loves you!
See ya next time.

It was a beautiful day for a mother and daughter to spend time together talking laughing and not giving thought to anything bad happening. They had been at the Indiana State Fair and were now heading home with the daughter driving and mom riding shotgun. They had gotten separated from other family members driving a different car so they pulled into a drugstore parking lot in a small town to sit and wait for the others to catch up. Like I said not a care in the world, that is until they saw a car barreling down on them. Someone was driving fast and erratically out on the road, but had now veered into the parking lot and was heading straight toward our two gals, who had no time to react, not even pray; only brace for an impending impact that could easily be fatal!

The moment was upon them, but instead on a devastating collision the car racing toward them began to slow down dramatically until it came to a stop, just inches from the mom and her daughter. When breath came back to everyone involved the woman driving the oncoming vehicle rolled down her window and asked if they were alright. “Yes, we’re alright,” came an excited response from the daughter, “What were you doing?” With hardly a hesitation the woman responded, “I was trying to kill myself.”

Now there come moments in life when there is no good retort or reply to statements that might be made to us, and someone telling you they were trying to kill themselves definitely falls into that category. I suppose they could have said “Well thank God you didn’t” or “Next time how about picking a target that doesn’t involve other people!” then hightail it out of there to get as far from this gal as possible. But the mother had other ideas that she was being led to follow. Without hesitation she got out walked over and climbed into the passenger seat of someone she didn’t know and who frankly could still do something irrational. But the mother held a belief, rather a faith that told her she needed to go to this woman and see what she could do to help. She based this faith on words such as;

“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.”

It was only a matter of seconds before this distraught soul was pouring out her heart telling the mother all the pressures and problems she was experiencing that led her to believe there was no reason to continue on. When she finished the mother gave her reasons of why her life was important, and how much God loved her. They parted with a prayer and exchange of telephone numbers so they could stay in touch.

“Well I’m certainly glad God brought us together” the mother told her new friend and then “and that you were able to get your car stopped in time.” The woman looked at her and said, “That’s one of the funniest things, I don’t ever remember hitting the brake.”

You don’t have to agree with me, but I got a feeling someone had a ton of angels dragging that car to a halt! This lady had an idea of giving up everything, but God had a plan for her to gain so much more with the aide of one of His agents, one of His servants.

1 Peter 3:15 “But in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect”

On a beautiful sunshiny day two “Travelers of the Rock Road” came together unexpectedly; one who saw no hope left in life, and one prepared to show that best part of life was still waiting for the other to see and accept.

I guess the question now is which traveler are you, the one looking for hope and life, or the one who holds answers to those questions?  If you’re the latter then all I can say is stay ready; you just never know who God is going to send barreling your way!

See ya next time!