answers, but we trust God to show up and cover our bases. He’s come through for me on my job more times than I could count. And suddenly, when things look darkest, you find yourself face to face with one of life’s surprises, one you never would’ve imagined. Better than you would’ve imagined. One you never would’ve considered if you hadn’t reached the low point.”
Hunter allowed Gabe’s words to hang in the air as he considered them. He wondered how low his own situation could go. Then he shifted his thoughts to what Gabe had said, that an unexpected development could arrive around the corner when he least expected it. A surprise sounded nice.
Then he remembered Gabe’s mention of God covering their bases, and he grew curious about Gabe’s faith.
“I still can’t believe our paths crossed at the Youth Vision conference years ago.”
Gabe looked up, his face beaming. “Small world!”
“The drama you were in: Didn’t you play the part of a teenager who’d gotten hurt or caught in the middle of rough circumstances?”
“A teen whose parents had told him they were getting a divorce.”
“Yeah, now I remember it,” Hunter said. “That was an emotional scene. You must’ve practiced it a ton before the event started.”
“We did. The role was natural for me, though. I grew up in a single-parent home.”
“Your parents got divorced?”
“My dad was in the military. He fought in the Middle East during the war with Iraq in the early 1990s, the one where we defended Kuwait. It lasted less than a year, but he died in the combat zone when I was a baby,” Gabe said. “I have no memories of him.”
Hunter froze. So few military members had died in that war, you never ran into a family who had lost a loved one. “I’m sorry to hear that, man.”
“No worries. Like I said, I don’t remember him. And now that I’m in my twenties, I’ve moved forward. The downside, besides the obvious one of losing your dad, is that you don’t have a male role model while you’re growing up. That makes it tough.”
“What about an older brother?”
“I’m an only child. And Mom never remarried. She remained committed to Dad after he died, even though she didn’t need to.” Gabe paused as if in reflection, then added, “My mom’s faith pulled her through.”
“So she’s a strong Christian?”
“Yeah. I owe my faith roots to her. I grew up in church. In fact, I don’t think we ever missed a Sunday service.”
“Growing up without your dad must’ve made your faith that much more important to you.”
“Let’s say God became my best friend. Where my dad couldn’t be present, God showed up and filled the void. It’s not quite the same, since God is invisible. You can’t feel Him wrap His arms around you—that’s the one thing I always wished for as a kid, the feeling of having my dad’s arms wrapped around me to bring me comfort. Even as an adult, it would be nice to have my dad’s arm wrapped around me. But you don’t always get what you want in life, right?” Gabe shook his head. He shaded his eyes with two fingers in an effort to hide embarrassment. “Whose therapy session did you say this is?”
“I don’t mind.” Hunter sensed his heart draw closer to Gabe’s. “When you’re in a struggle, it’s good to know you’re not alone. That’s the worst feeling, when you feel like you’re on your own, with nobody to talk to— really talk to, even if you don’t know how.”
Gabe said nothing in response. He offered a simple nod.
Hunter perceived a bond had formed between them and didn’t want the chat to end.
Yet, before he knew it, the appointment had wound down. Gabe had already worked past Hunter’s calves, down to his feet. And a few minutes later, Gabe finished.
Hunter got up from the massage table. They said good-bye and shook hands. Gabe’s palm felt warm against Hunter’s.
Standing still, Hunter studied Gabe as he headed toward the door.
When Gabe looked over
Hunter allowed Gabe’s words to hang in the air as he considered them. He wondered how low his own situation could go. Then he shifted his thoughts to what Gabe had said, that an unexpected development could arrive around the corner when he least expected it. A surprise sounded nice.
Then he remembered Gabe’s mention of God covering their bases, and he grew curious about Gabe’s faith.
“I still can’t believe our paths crossed at the Youth Vision conference years ago.”
Gabe looked up, his face beaming. “Small world!”
“The drama you were in: Didn’t you play the part of a teenager who’d gotten hurt or caught in the middle of rough circumstances?”
“A teen whose parents had told him they were getting a divorce.”
“Yeah, now I remember it,” Hunter said. “That was an emotional scene. You must’ve practiced it a ton before the event started.”
“We did. The role was natural for me, though. I grew up in a single-parent home.”
“Your parents got divorced?”
“My dad was in the military. He fought in the Middle East during the war with Iraq in the early 1990s, the one where we defended Kuwait. It lasted less than a year, but he died in the combat zone when I was a baby,” Gabe said. “I have no memories of him.”
Hunter froze. So few military members had died in that war, you never ran into a family who had lost a loved one. “I’m sorry to hear that, man.”
“No worries. Like I said, I don’t remember him. And now that I’m in my twenties, I’ve moved forward. The downside, besides the obvious one of losing your dad, is that you don’t have a male role model while you’re growing up. That makes it tough.”
“What about an older brother?”
“I’m an only child. And Mom never remarried. She remained committed to Dad after he died, even though she didn’t need to.” Gabe paused as if in reflection, then added, “My mom’s faith pulled her through.”
“So she’s a strong Christian?”
“Yeah. I owe my faith roots to her. I grew up in church. In fact, I don’t think we ever missed a Sunday service.”
“Growing up without your dad must’ve made your faith that much more important to you.”
“Let’s say God became my best friend. Where my dad couldn’t be present, God showed up and filled the void. It’s not quite the same, since God is invisible. You can’t feel Him wrap His arms around you—that’s the one thing I always wished for as a kid, the feeling of having my dad’s arms wrapped around me to bring me comfort. Even as an adult, it would be nice to have my dad’s arm wrapped around me. But you don’t always get what you want in life, right?” Gabe shook his head. He shaded his eyes with two fingers in an effort to hide embarrassment. “Whose therapy session did you say this is?”
“I don’t mind.” Hunter sensed his heart draw closer to Gabe’s. “When you’re in a struggle, it’s good to know you’re not alone. That’s the worst feeling, when you feel like you’re on your own, with nobody to talk to— really talk to, even if you don’t know how.”
Gabe said nothing in response. He offered a simple nod.
Hunter perceived a bond had formed between them and didn’t want the chat to end.
Yet, before he knew it, the appointment had wound down. Gabe had already worked past Hunter’s calves, down to his feet. And a few minutes later, Gabe finished.
Hunter got up from the massage table. They said good-bye and shook hands. Gabe’s palm felt warm against Hunter’s.
Standing still, Hunter studied Gabe as he headed toward the door.
When Gabe looked over
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