We have a guy

When I was asked to play softball with a co-worker, he said they have this really awesome guy on the team but he won't be there for the game tonight.  In other words "we have a guy".  I thought, hmm, interesting, I need to meet this guy.  Let's see how good he is.  

A few games later, the showdown happened, the living legend appeared.  You could tell there was some awkwardness at the start but once the ice broke, it was game on.  It was a friendly competition at first but developed into a solid duo on the field.  It was truly a joy to unite.  

After each game, he and I would settle in at a local bar who sponsored us to talk about the game, sports in general, and a few times about Jesus.  That is right, sitting in a bar talking about Jesus.  I would have a soda and some cheese curds, the deep-fried ones with some popcorn.  Delicious.  We shared great laughs, food, and soda together.  Sometimes he would have a beer.    

When we did not go to the bar, his wife and young daughter would watch the game where afterward we would go eat ice cream.  One time, my girlfriend, now wife, joined us on this ice cream eating adventure.  They were an amazing family.  It was as if God showed me what true love means when it comes to a family.  They were the model family.  

He was a strong Christian while I was new to my walk in the Lord.  Brand new in my walk.  Our friendship blossomed and grew in love for each other.  We maybe spend a total of 100 hours together between softball games and other times.  100 hours that is it, yet those 100 hours were more special than any person in my life outside of my wife and kids.  More than my family, relatives, and other friends.  

When the Holy Bible talks about David and Nathan being knit to the soul (1 Samuel 18:1), that is who Jon Otto and I were.  For those who read my blogs in the beginning, another one named David was much like Jon.  Both were taken early from my life.  Jon Otto went to be with the Lord after passing from Lou Gehrig disease ALS.  It is an irony we met playing softball, Jon was a legend like Lou Gehrig at least with this team.

Jon and David are now in Heaven with no more pain and suffering as they fought the good fight until their bodies could fight no more.  They both wrote to me about how the Lord was going to heal them only to be taken away a few months later into Heaven.  Jon is one of those guys who leave a mark on life like a stamp on a person's heart.  A stamp of love, goodness, faithfulness, joy, hope, peace much like Jesus left His stamp for us in the fruits of the spirit.  Jon lived the fruits of the spirit.  Now, you know the rest of the story per my dedication in the book His Love, His Word.  There are not many Jon Otto's who grace the world.