I told the short man, “I will give you a chance to win your money back, but it is going to cost you.” He looked at me with dark eyes that were full of distrust and anger. I had just taken one hundred dollars off him and two of his friends shooting pool, playing 8 ball. Now I wanted to go in for the kill.
He continued to stare as I spoke again, “I will play you one game for all the marbles. You win you get your hundred bucks back, if I win I leave here doubly rich. What ya say?” The man looked at his friends who were lined up along the wall close to the pool tables, a look passed between them I did not recognize but he nodded in agreement. I racked the balls.
He broke sinking a solid but missed on his next shot. From there I ran the table sinking the 8 ball with a called shot in the corner pocket. The man handed me five crumbled twenty-dollar bills with a smile and with another look I could not recognize in my alcohol soaked condition. I offered to buy them all a drink but they refused. So, I thought maybe I better leave well enough alone and headed for the door.
When I got outside the Escondido night air was cool and had the feel of the ocean only miles to the west. I was pleased with myself and as I was opening the van door did not notice the sound of running feet behind me. As I reached for the door I felt a sharp pain in my lower back. Soon all three of them were on me and I was on the ground being stomped and hit with what I thought was a pool cue. All went black.
I heard through the haze voices and opened my eyes to see a small crowd gathered around me. A woman said, “Are you ok, do you want us to call an ambulance?” I shook my head struggling to get to my feet. Pulling myself up with the van door, I saw the keys were still in the lock. I grabbed them and tumbled into the driver’s seat. As soon as I could fire up the van I pulled out of the parking lot and headed toward Vista and my brother’s house where I was staying.
My body felt like it was on fire and could feel blood in my mouth. I had been jumped, and could feel that my pockets were empty. The pool players had doubled down on me, gotten the last laugh. Right now, all I could do was kept from passing out, but I was sure the anger would keep me awake.
I pulled into my brother’s driveway and slipped in the back door. Dropping into a chair in the family room, finally I allowed myself to passed out. Hearing screams in my sleep, I awoke to see my niece and nephews around me crying, “Uncle Johnny is dead!” With voices full of terror, they looked at their uncle sprawled on the floor surrounded by blood. He looked dead to them.
This story has gone on to take a life of its own in our family lore. The story of the morning my brother’s little ones found their uncle dead in the family room. I wish I could say that it was the only sad story of my life living addicted to drugs and alcohol but it is not. As we live, so are we remembered. But the beautiful thing about the transformed life is that even if we can’t erase all the stories they can be used for the glory of God. The fact is that God does not ask us to forget the life we once lived but to testify how far we have come once we have accepted Jesus and share that with others.
There is a great story in the gospels about a demon possessed man. This guy was filled with many demons that tormented him day and night. And as they tormented him, he tormented the people around him. It got so bad that everybody in the area feared him so much that they tried to put him in chains but he broke them and would hide in the tombs outside the city. Many stories circulated about this guy until one-day Jesus came to where he was. And as the man fell on his knees at the feet of the Savior the demons were driven out leaving the man healed and whole. Do you know what Jesus did once the man was transformed? He told the guy, “Return home and declare how much God has done for you.” (Luke 8:39) And that transformed man could only do as the master asked, “He went away proclaiming throughout the whole city how much Jesus had done for him.” (Luke 8:40) That one man who everyone knew and feared now was different and all saw it. He told people how it all happened and literally thousands believed. One man and his story of salvation.
I tell a lot of stories from my past life, but only to show that no matter how lost I was that we have a God who came to seek and save sinners like me. I want everyone to know that. I want you who think you are too far gone to be saved to remember, “For God so loved the world (your name) that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have ever lasting life.” (John 3:16) Today try adding your name to the verse and know this is true, Jesus would have hung on that cross and died just to save you. My friends, that is a story I never get tired of telling!
Blessings John
8/28/17
Go and tell what Jesus has done for you…
