Perhaps it is the passing of time and the reaching of those senior years.  Whatever the reason, reflections of people from the past can bring the fondest of memories.  In a life of just beyond seven decades, there have been an unrecognized number of special people whose lives have intermingled in some way.  Unfortunately, many of those people are buried in the recesses of memory and rarely brought to active thought.  Fortunately, on the other hand, the benefits of what each person brings to another person’s life has at least some small measure of shaping who we become.

 John Lennon captured much of this same idea in his song, “In My Life”.

 “There are places I remember – All my life though some have changed – Some forever, not for better – Some have gone and some remain. – All these places have their moments – With lovers and friends I still can recall. – Some are dead and some are living. – In my life I’ve loved them all. “

Among those passing people who had a timely and memorable effect was a guy that came to mind today.  Just call him Dave, though that was not his real name.  In memory, Dave was a stocky man in his thirties when my friends and I were young boys.  He was friendly and likeable.  He was not handsome but had a pleasant appearance.  Interaction with Dave would leave the thought that he was a working-class man who knew what it was to do a job and do it well.  In his younger days he had been a tough and vital player for the football team at the local university.  All the boys at church loved to see Dave.  Each would run to him and stick out a hand.  When Dave took each hand, a battle would begin.  Dave had a powerful grip, and the boys loved to see if any could out-grip him.  None could.  He had a presence about him.  When he was present, it was easy to know he was there.  Sometimes, he was given the chance to lead a song at a church service.  He almost always led the same song; “Revive Us Again”.  It may have been the only song he knew well enough to lead.  He didn’t know music, but when he sang, everyone one wanted to sing with him. 

A description of Dave would not be complete without noting his tender heart.  A guest speaker, who had done some mission work in a third world country, was speaking to a group of men from church, and telling of his experiences.  The speaker related meeting a young girl, who was not quite twelve years old.  He said she was pregnant with her first child.  Almost immediately, there was a sniffling sound.  We all turned to see Dave, who had tears running down his face.  The tough old football player was “cut to the heart”. 

Dave was a good, fun guy that would have been remembered, but there is one special event that remains imprinted in my memory.  It was the summer of 1974 (If I remember correctly), and a group of us were playing softball in a summer church league.  I don’t remember who we were playing, or even if we won the game.  I do remember a couple of innings during the game.  I felt good and had hit a deep ball or two, but nothing worthy of note.  Dave had batted well, earlier times at the plate.  So, he stood in the warm-up circle taking practice swings to be ready to go again.  As he prepared to step to the plate, someone hollered, “Knock it out of the park!”  He turned and said he would try.  The first pitch was knocked foul.  He readied for the next pitch.  Dave drew back, looking like a spring that was ready to suddenly unwind with force.  He swung.  He connected with the ball.  The ball sailed extremely high and landed well beyond the outfield fence.  We all hooped and hollered as he trotted around the bases.  As he came back to the bench, Dave acted as if it wasn’t a big thing, but he was smiling.  He looked at me and said, “Your turn.”

As I began my walk to the plate, I turned to my friend, John, and told him I was going to do what Dave had done.  The first pitch was a ball.  The second pitch looked great, and I swung the bat with all I had.  I connected.  I knew it was a good hit, but didn’t know how deep it would fly.  Heading for first base, I knew it did not sail as high as Dave’s hit.  I was ready to stop at first base or even go back to the bench, but as I watched the ball it cleared the right field fence with just a few feet to spare.  It was the first time I knocked one out of the park.  Truly, it was the only time I knocked one out of the park.  It was just a small-time softball game with a bunch of amateurs in summer league.  Still, it was a special moment for me.  For a short time, I was the king of the softball field.

In reflection, there is wonder.  What brought me (a mediocre ball player) to think I could knock one out of the park.  I am sure that it was Dave’s influence.  If he had not been the fun, encouraging guy that he was, I would not have even tried.  Yes, it was only one time at bat.  No one else would even remember the event.  Dave probably had no idea what his influence was on that day, or what the memory of that moment meant to me.

Again, it might be age and the passing of time that bring special moments from within mental memory books.  For sure, there are many other small moments in our journeys that have brought us to where we are.  There have been too many people to begin to count them all.  Some are dead, and some are living.  Some are far, and some are near.  Perhaps we should tell them how they have affected our lives, or maybe expressions are not really needed.  For maybe it is enough to simply know that every connection with another person makes a difference.

Today, you may well be making a memory that influences the life of another person.  Make it a good one.  “Moreover, I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease” (2 Peter 1:15).

Russell L. Dyer            

October 16, 2025