Who

I’ve not been able to get my old friend Ron off my mind. Ron died a few months ago and he has lurked in the corners of my mind ever since for a couple of grand quotes that seem to grow more meaningful as the years go by.
I don’t even know when I first met Ron Davis. He served on the board of Maywood Christian Camp so I met him before I got to know him, if you know what I mean. But I do know when I got to know him. It was in 1988 nearly a quarter of a century ago. I was the too young preacher at the Hamilton church. I was 25. Incidentally, they had hired me not because of me, but because they loved and revered my dad and hoped I could bring some of “his magic” to that great church. But that gets a little away from the story. I suppose what is most germane is that they were incredibly patient with me and that is part of why I love them to this day.
Ron Davis: One of the older elders at Hamilton told me within a week of my moving there “The name Ron Davis will open any door in this town.” Ron was not a man rich by most standards but by sheer power of good influence the Davis name had become synonymous with all that was right and good in that town.
So Ron and I were out driving one day when Ron made one of two statements that I’ll never forget. He said: “You know Dale that the people who loved and supported W.T. (the previous preacher) are the same ones who will love and support your work.” He was right and that really makes sense to me now. I suppose that shouldn’t be a shock - if he preached the Gospel and loved the People and I preach the Gospel and love the People we are on the same page regardless on how different we might be in other ways. I amazed at the number of preachers who seem to be jealous an/or suspicious of their fellow “earthen vessels”.
Just as meaningful was a question he asked me. Just out of the blue he asked once when we were together - “Who counsels the counselor?” Truthfully I was too young to fully get the impact of the question. I carry so many secrets from people who have shared with me stuff I can never tell that I times I feel like the national vault (I’m not sure what that sentence means but I figure you get it). So much of it I don’t know what to do with. How many times a week have I heard: “I just need to talk to someone...” or “Don’t tell anybody about this but...” There’s stuff that if the elders knew it it would explain much, there’s stuff that everyone believes to be trust that is not. I’m blessed and blessed but I still often think when the pressure is on strong or when I learn yet again something I wish I’d never learned - who counsels the counselor.
Ron was a blessing for many reasons, just thought I’d share these two with you.