My New Friend Mark

Recently, I moved into a different part of town to be closer to people (people people – real people).  It has been a great experience so far, and I have learned a lot.  Let me tell you a little bit about one person that I have met – a man named Mark.

Mark is probably in his 40’s.  He’s single, unemployed, and does not have any family or friends in the area.  His life consists of drinking during the day… and drinking at night, too.  He sits out in his lawn chair by his trailer and sips on his beer.  I actually have not spoken to him when he has been sober yet.  But here are two things that I have learned from Mark and this friendship already:

1. I really don’t blame Mark for drinking.  When I was younger, I thought it was simple.  Good people don’t drink beer.  Bad people do drink beer.  And I thought it was a fairly straightforward decision: if you wanted to be good, you didn’t drink.  If you wanted to be bad, you did drink.  But Mark has really made me think about this.  Here’s the thing: Mark has nothing else to do.  Truly, Mark has nothing else going on in his life.  He needs to find some happiness somewhere – so why not the easiest thing, the thing that he knows?  Beer.  He has nothing else, and he needs something.  So I can’t fault him for that.  And that has kind of thrown me for a little bit of a loop (see below for how this is spurring me to respond).
2. Mark has a story to tell.  Almost every single time that we have talked, Mark has told me the few stories of good things that have happened in his life.  Mark played college baseball.  Mark was the top vacuum salesman.  Each time we talk – he shares these stories with me.  He loves sharing his story.  He loves these good moments in his life.

So what am I learning?  Easy.  I need to help Mark see that there is something more for him out there.  I need to give him something more – a purpose, a mission, a calling, a charge.  Mark needs to see that God has a plan for him and that God has things He wants Mark to do here on earth.  Secondofly, I need to just listen to Mark.  I need to listen to him and validate his story.  HE HAS A STORY!  And I am thrilled to hear it – simply because it is from him, simply because it is Mark’s.

Give him something more.

Listen to his story.

That’s what I am going to focus on with my new friend Mark.