Crossroads

     Brandon watched the clock with great anticipation.  He was just minutes away from something he thought would never come summer vacation.  He absolutely loved his first semester in college.  Things were going better than he could have imagined.  He was getting straight As.  He made some really awesome friends.

 

  But, Brandon was going to get to go home for the summer.  He was going to see his childhood buddies that he hasn't seen for a while.  They were four amazing young men who were more like brothers than best friends.  They lived just houses away from one another, and went through school together.  This special reunion was planned months ago.

 

  Finally, the last seconds of class were done.  Brandon raced back to his room.  He gathered all of his bags together.  A friend agreed to take him to the airport.  When he reached the airport in his hometown, Brandon's face lit up.  He got off of the plane and looked around for his buddies.  But, no one was there.

 

  Suddenly, he saw his mother and father waving at him.  Brandon was disappointed.  "Where are the guys?" he asked.  "What's wrong with us?" his Father asked.  "What are we not good enough?"  "No, I didn't mean that" he answered.  Brandon remained quiet for the trip home.

 

  After dinner that evening, he went over to one of his friend's house.  He was delighted when his friend opened the door.  "Hey Brandon nice to see you again."  The young man said.  "What do you mean?"  Brandon asked.  "What about the reunion?"  Just then, a young lady appeared and a few other kids that he didn't know.

 

  "Sorry man", he said.  "As you can see, I have plans."  Brandon then went to check on his other friends.  One friend was away on a trip with his family.  The other one was staying at his school for the summer.  Just one of his close friends was at home.  "Hey Tim, I'm home.  Looks like it will just be us for the reunion man."  Brandon said.

 

  "Brandon, I have plans for the summer."  The young man said.  "I am working with a program at my church.  We help people around town."  "When did you become religious man?"  Brandon asked Tim.  "It was about a year ago at a camp I volunteered for."  Tim said.  "This is an awesome church."

 

  Brandon simply gave up.  He really didn't have any plans for the summer.  So, he asked Tim if he could help out.  The next day, he went with the group to help out on a block in an elderly community.  They were helping with yard work.  There was one elderly man that sat on his porch watching them.

 

  "Hey Tim", Brandon said.  "What about him?"  "Oh no", Tim answered.  "He stays to himself and doesn't want to be bothered."  Everyday for a few weeks Brandon saw the man watching them.  So, one day he decided to try something.  He bought a small box of candy and went up on the porch to bring it to the man.  The elderly man smiled and asked him to sit down.

 

  Brandon introduced himself.  They talked for over an hour.  He enjoyed hearing about the man's life and the strength that he held so dear, Jesus Christ.  Brandon asked the man, whose name was Mr. Jenson, if he needed help with any thing.  He said no.  But, he would love to show everyone his craft shop and the items he makes out of wood.

 

  So, Brandon told Tim about it.  The next day, the church group met at Mr. Jenson's home.  They were astonished to discover that the man they thought didn't want to be bothered was such a blessing.  Brandon was impressed by Mr. Jenson's character.  He accepted Christ into his heart that evening.  Tim also learned to be more open to everyone.

 

  Brandon and Mr. Jenson joined Tim's church.  Brandon had realized some awesome things.  It wasn't the summer that he had planned.  Things had changed.  But, he had reached a crossroads too.  He had made some awesome new friends and was becoming more of a man.  He also met the greatest friend of all Jesus!