Off The Interstate

 

There are things to see that aren’t on the Interstate. Slow down and look for them.

In I Chronicles 27 we find a piece of trivia concerning King David when we read in verse 33 that “Hushai the Arkite was David’s friend.” It appears important to God to let us know that although David was a man after his own heart, he also needed and had a friend named Hushai.

We need friends.

Most who follow us on Facebook (although called ‘friends’) are more often than not, just acquaintances. Few would qualify as “3 a.m. friends” who come running to your assistance even in the wee small hours of the morning.

But Bill Lichty would! We were high school buddies, roommates in Bible School, incredible Rook partners in the all-night Friday competitions. We were soul buddies for over 60 years.

I spoke at his memorial service last Saturday in Detroit.

Bill and Marcia raised two amazing children, grand-parented three exceptional kids, pastored churches, ran a successful counseling ministry, directed a Teen Challenge drug recovery program. He loved everybody and as far as I can tell, was loved by everybody.

He also mentored me … his previous roommate, in a very important issue. He taught me about taking ‘road trips.’ I had thought I had the process down quite nicely. If anyone asked me what I saw on my road trip, I would respond, “well, the road of course.”

A road trip to me meant covering 1,000 miles in a day before stopping to rest. You left in the middle of the night and didn’t stop until late into the next night. What you saw was basically the road. So when Bill inquired as to whether Joanie and I had ever seen Zion National Park, my question was, “Is it on the road?”

Seriously, I knew approximately where it was, but there was never time to get off the highway to view it. Bill insinuated that I needed to enjoy the journey as much as concentrating on the destination.

But then, that’s the way Bill traveled all his journeys, especially his journey with God. He didn’t go through the Bible as much as he allowed God’s Word to go through him! He didn’t ignore nor presume … he checked things out. He discovered and then blessed others by taking them to quiet places in God, extraordinary vistas of his plans, breathtaking views of his greatness.

He often got off the spiritual interstate and searched out the beauty and depth of his Savior and then shared it with those he ministered to. Fortunate indeed were the people who received this ministry.

I thank God for this dear friend who found God in places most of us never even look!

 

 

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