Nancy White Kelly
Here I am bumping words together, hoping they will make sense, inspire and perhaps brings a laugh. Charlie is in El Salvador. A few months ago he was in Africa. He marches to a different drummer than most young adults. He has a singular goal and that is to influence others spiritually. The joy of his life is none other than Jesus Christ. I know this sounds goody-goody and unabashed “mama talk.” If Charlie weren’t our son, I’d be a bit skeptical myself. Nobody is that committed.
He admits to making adolescent mistakes and having regrets. And perfect he isn’t. He still has to be asked to take out the trash, mow the lawn, and pick up his dirty clothes off the bedroom floor. Things like that don’t change.
Though quiet and reserved, Charlie has a keen sense of humor. Recently, when applying for a summer job at the newspaper, the questionnaire asked for what position he was applying. He wrote, “President; CEO.”
Charlie has always been strong-minded, but was never a difficult child. Rules without relationships make rebellious children. Buddy and I have striven to maintain a caring, loving relationship with Charlie. It has paid off.
Now that Charlie is an adult, the tables are turning and we are enjoying it. How many twenty-one year-old somethings initiate a family time each night to read and discuss the Bible? He even gave his Dad a larger print Bible for Father’s Day to accommodate his dimming eyesight.
If you discuss moral absolutes and situational ethics with Charlie, you will quickly discover that Charlie only sees black and white. Gray does not exist. I can’t help but laugh at some of the things he has gotten himself into because of his serious stand for right and wrong.
During one summer in high school, Charlie worked at the drive-through of a fast food burger place. The following summer, he applied for a job as a clerk at a neighborhood drug store. The interview went fine, but he was never called back for the job. He later dropped by and asked the manager what happened. Seems there was a question on the application that basically asked if he had ever given away property that had belonged to a business. Charlie didn’t hesitate to answer, yes. On that basis he was eliminated from consideration. He politely left, giving no defense for his answer.
My inquiring mind wanted to know more. It seems that the policy of the previous burger establishment was to throw away anything left at closing. This place also sold chicken. When the last car came through the line, Charlie added the day’s left over chicken to the bag since it would be going into the garbage anyway. The manager saw him do it and told him that this was contrary to store policy.
So, Charlie, being the totally honest person he is, noted on the drug store application that he had given away items that didn’t belong to him. With a little prodding, Charlie went back to the drugstore manager and explained the full circumstances. He was hired on the spot and had a successful summer of work before returning to college. The next summer he worked gratis with an organization affiliated with Child Evangelism. All summer he and friend, Jared, recruited children from homes throughout the mountains for backyard Bible clubs.
Today Charlie is working in El Salvador which was ravaged by earthquakes not many months ago. Just as in America and Africa, those in Central America are in great need physically and spiritually.
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June 28, 2001
