Inspire Point

I had just given Dorothy the T-shirt when Jim did the most amazing thing. The one thing only he was capable of doing.

For the 30-minute drive to Jim’s house, my head was full of questions. What will I say? Have I waited too long? Will Jim know me or even know I’m there?

I knew Jim had cancer but I didn’t know how much time he had left. I just knew I had to tell him what he meant to me before it was too late.

I hadn’t seen Jim in a while and I was starting to wonder why? This was unusual. I was used to seeing Jim at gospel meetings. Then one day, I heard the news from a mutual friend. Jim has CANCER!

It was an impromptu conversation. I guess all of our conversations were like this because we would just run into each other from time to time. I remember telling Jim, “Dad doesn’t agree with me.” He said, “I know. I’ve been where he is. But he’ll come around.” That’s all he said.

I had known Jim for well over 40 years. I was just a boy when we first met. He and my Dad were close to the same age. We didn’t run into each other very often but that did not diminish the impact he had on my life.

Once upon a time, there was a man with a BIG handshake, my friend Jim. When people saw Jim coming, they braced themselves, because they knew what was about to happen.

Before you click away, hear me out.