Bill's "God Moment"

I’d been previously stationed there, and the experience was very satisfying.

Because I was at the lowest point of my life, feeling completely worthless after a failed marriage and embarrassment to my family, I returned with a plan to end my life, but as you will read, God had another plan. I arrived on a Friday and got busy settling in.

Sunday evening after dinner, I went to the Snack Bar to purchase a cup of coffee and found an available table so I could firm up a plan for when the end would occur.

At one of the other tables, there were five or six teenage boys with an adult male, all apparently on a sports team. They were enjoying themselves, and at one point, they all laughed at the same time, causing me to look in their direction. One of the teens noticed me looking and returned the look, making eye contact and smiling. After that first eye contact, the laughter continued, and once again, I looked in their direction to see the same teen returning my gaze. As they were leaving, that same teen stood, looked in my direction, and nodded to acknowledge me. None of the other people at the table looked at me. I had absolutely no idea who this young teen was. At the time, I didn’t think any more of it.

A few days later, while sitting on a bench outside the Post Office, this same young teen came up and said ‘hi.’ Then he sat on the bench next to me, and we had a short conversation, talking about the island. It was then that I learned he had just turned 15 years old, although he appeared younger. After he left, I thought to myself how considerate and nice this teen was.

God knew that I had (and still have) a soft spot for teenage boys who might need someone in their life. As time went on, this teenager would be on the lookout for me. It progressed to him and me meeting at the Snack Bar every afternoon when I returned from work. One afternoon after our Snack Bar visit, as I was riding my bike alongside him on his way home, I reached over and grabbed his hand, looking at him and telling him that I’d never loved anyone as much as I loved him. His face relaxed, and he appreciated those words. Our bond grew stronger and, in my heart, he became my ‘little brother.’

The God moment happened, and any thought of ending my life ceased because of this young teen. He gave me a reason to continue living.

Today, that same teen is now a husband, father, and grandfather and will soon celebrate his 66^th birthday. Yes, we still share an unbreakable bond and intense love.



Because of him, my favorite Bible verse has become John 15:13