God Is Not Through with Me Yet!

You could see the smile on Sam’s (not his real name) face. The eyes were bright. His torso was tensed. Then it all exploded. Too late to stop, as other high school students were exiting the rehearsal hall toward the marching practice field, Sam began playing short cadence riffs on his marching snare drum. Ear-splitting fireballs of enthusiastic sound were shot out, meant to push the irritation button of all fellow students in the vicinity. His feeling of success was evident. Sam had potential musical ability; he could quickly learn and play parts others could not play. Sam had leadership potential; he was always surrounded by a following. Sam had intellect; he could think up more clever mischief than ten other students put together.

For the umpteenth time, I called him out and put a stop to the racket. “Not appropriate Sam,” I said. “Control yourself.” And he complied.

Sam’s behavioral issues were on display from his very first days in that high school. He had somehow learned to get his way through his over-the-top behavior. Yet, underneath the roughness, a boy was struggling with the process to maturity. Sam was a challenging student to deal with. Yet, I couldn’t help but take a shine to him. My wife and I raised three boys. I knew boys. There was clearly something genuine in him, some potential, if one could search beyond the bravado that so often masked his persona.

As one might expect, Sam was challenged with the structure of school. His behavior prevented him from learning well. He frequently found himself in academic distress, although he seemed to be able put out just enough effort at the last minute to pass a class and be able to participate in extra-curriculars.

However, Sam could not escape the rules. The yearbook sponsor came to my office one day before her deadline to explain why the photo of the band could not be used in that year’s yearbook. Until this last moment check, all photo proofreaders had missed one subtle and very inappropriate hand gesture by one student in the very top row among the percussionists. Yes, that would be Sam.

Sam’s suspension was hard on him. It was shortly thereafter that his academic performance become so poor and overwhelming that he became disqualified from any participation with his beloved drum. His family eventually moved.

Years passed and on occasion I wondered what became of Sam, but there were so many other students to think about as well. Other pressing tasks and challenges were always there.

One day, a small envelope was placed in my teacher mailbox at school. The envelope had my school address on it, but no return address to designate the sender. Curious, I opened the envelope to find a folded newspaper article. The article detailed a severe wreck which occurred on a coastal highway. As I unfolded the paper, it continued by recounting the selfless and heroic efforts of a passing young naval seaman who pulled a woman from the car, saving her life. Yes, that would be Sam.

A short, hand-written note was also folded into the envelope. It said simply, “I just wanted you to know I turned out good.”

Do you know a Sam?

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I Samuel 16:7 But the Lord said to Samuel, ‘Do not look at his appearance or at his physical stature, because I have refused him. For the Lord does not see as man sees; for a man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart. NKJV

Philippians 1:6 I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. NEV

Isaiah 30:18 Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts Himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is God of justice; blessed are all who wait for Him. NEV

-Mike Chance