Journey: Into The Never-ending Way

Chapter 4: Weeds

Lee Strobel wrote this great book, The Case For Grace (published by Zondervan, 2015, ISBN978-0-310-25917-6), in which you can find the next three stories that have impacted my experience. I'm recounting them in the context (my own words) of how they entered my brain, were born into my journey and what they continue to show me about the never-ending way.

Andrew was the third son of a famous evangelical preacher. He grew up in this Christian family where all the God-given input was placed before him every day, at home and church.

He did everything a good son of an evangelist was expected to do. He was part of the church's youth group, he memorized Bible verses, went to conferences and attended church every Sunday. But, during the week he was involved with a group that got their kicks by making pipe bombs and Molotov cocktails. They raided the liquor cabinets in their neighbors' homes and filled garbage cans full of jungle juice (a mixture of alcoholic drinks) for their parties. They created bigger heart rushes by smoking marijuana and steeling cars for joy riding trips.

He was living deep in the weeds where everything but what the weeds needed and wanted was choked out. The weeds came first, everything else was background noise and took no root in his brain. His friends,drugs and joy rides gave him the sensation of living large, on the edge, and getting away with it.

What was a father to do? His son was headed down a dark path that would only end in the final pronouncement at death's door. Andrew's father had seen dying, and he'd also seen people find new life in an eternal path out of the weeds, in earthy neighborhoods, into the fresh air of another neighborhood. Another neighborhood, where the burden and hardships cast on them by avoiding their true Father, were forgiven.Where they could enter into real love and family life. That's what he so desperately wanted for his son. Life!

After high school Andrew's father sent him to Biola University,definitely hoping and praying that a more positive example would put Andrew in a better mind zone.

The cure didn't work. After a year of partying Andrew was asked to leave.

He transferred to the University of Oregon where the less confining atmosphere allowed Andrew to pursue his life's ambition for having a good time.

Eventually his fraternity was banned from the campus after they set an old Volkswagen Beetle on fire—that belonged to one of the frat brothers. He soon dropped out of school and moved to Boston looking for a job.

Not one to give up easily, Andrew's father invited him to Jamaica where he'd be holding an evangelistic meeting. At first Andrew was not interested in going. But, the cold Boston air (where he was now working and partying) put another thought in his mind. He decided to go and take in some sunshine and good old Jamaican rum.

Andrew ended up staying with a local family where he met the son and daughter, Chris and Wendy. They were warm, friendly and living in the never-ending way with Jesus. They had been healed of addictions and restored to sharing Jesus' love with their community. They'd found the way out of the weeds.

One night he went to one of his father's meetings. By the end of the meeting he'd told himself that it was time to get right with Jesus.He didn't walk forward with the other repenting people. Instead, he made his own private mental decision.

Even though he'd told Chris, Wendy, his parents and his skeptical friends,after returning to Boston, it didn't take. Once again he wandered back into the weeds, partying with his friends and unable to give up his friendship with earthy culture.

Andrew again adopted his friend's idols and accepted the lie that the goodlife was a great party in an earthy neighborhood. His brain was focused on what his body was demanding, and his body was being fed by the weeds.