During my youth I had a best friend named Calvin. He lived just two houses down the street in a large log cabin ranch that was surrounded by stately fir trees. It was a very private setting. By comparison, our house was a very small, plain shaker-shingle shack. It sat just 100 feet off the road, which made it visible by all who happened to drive or walk past it. Calvin would often ride his bicycle to my house. He would tell me, "I hear you guys singing in there sometimes." I would smile, be embarrassed and we would both go fishing at Hanson Lake.
Calvin was a cheery friend. He was quick to laugh, always had a joke and he made the very best of every situation. I enjoyed Calvin’s company...most of the time. However, sometimes Calvin just wasn't himself. He seemed like a completely different person.
Our family regularly attended a nearby Seventh-day Adventist church. Occasionally I would choose to walk to it rather than ride in the car. Often, Calvin would spot me walking past his home and in good fun he would give me a hard time. “Well, there’s the church-boy! Are you going to sing songs to Jesus? Hey wait a minute, it’s Saturday! You’re a day early! Are you going early to get a good seat for tomorrow?” He would use that expression quite often and I admit I always thought that it was quite clever and funny. Personally, I didn’t like the ribbing but knew it was part of Calvin’s nature. He meant well. I would smile, shake my head in the affirmative and just kept walking. All the while thinking, it just seemed so out of character for Calvin. I would arrive at church and, just like Calvin asked, I would sing songs to (and about) Jesus. Every now and then thoughts of Calvin would sneak in my head. Someday, I thought…. someday I should invite him to church. I just couldn’t imagine asking him, let alone having Calvin sit beside me in a church pew!
During one church service the pastor spoke about health. He used the text in 1st Corinthians 6:19 “Do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?” Our church strongly emphasized health and purity. Like most teens, I didn’t understand nor think much about the application to my life but through song and Bible study, I believed I should keep care of my body; His temple.
As often happens, teen friends drift apart and start their own lives. Two decades later, I received a phone call from my dear friend Calvin. After we had chatted awhile he said, “Hey, remember when you use to walk past my house and I would kid you about going to church?”
I didn’t REALLY want to remember but I distinctly did and said, “Hmmm… um, yeah, I guess.”
He continued, “I just wanted you to know how sorry I am. You did the best thing by going to church. I’ve been reading my Bible and believe in a Seventh-day Sabbath. It just seems to make sense. I have been sober for 6 months now. I use to sneak my dad's booze and I said some stupid things when I was drunk. I remember teasing you. I am sorry.”
Flabbergasted would hardly describe my feelings. I started to say something, anything but before I could, Calvin asked me a final question, “Will you send me some Bible studies?”
“Well, sure Calvin. I can do that. Where should I send them?” He gave me an unfamiliar address: MSP Route 1 Thomaston, Maine 04861. ATTN: *274986534. I looked up the address and was surprised to learn that MSP is the abbreviation for Maine State Prison. I sent the complete set of Bible studies and hoped and prayed that he received them.
I have often thought about Calvin's large log-cabin, the stately fir trees, the surrounding beauty and our shaker-shingle shack. I am thankful we sang songs and prayed. I am thankful that Calvin could hear us as he pedaled by on his bike. As a teen, at times I was a bit embarrassed about being overheard singing and praying about Jesus. As an adult, I am concerned about not being heard at all. Calvin's words still echo in my head, "You did the right thing by going to church.... ."
I hope to meet Calvin again, in a better place; a stately, heavenly home. We will sing songs (loudly) and since we will be in heaven, when we fish we will 'Catch & Release''! ~Pray /\
*Changed to protect the incarcerated.
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