Day 8- I am thankful for those that have gone before.  I am thankful for these brave men and women that have died so that I might live in a country with freedoms.  Those freedoms are the bedrock of our nation. But I am also thankful for those that when before me that were my friends.  People that were in my life but due to the way life works they are now dead.  They poured much into life.

Today I am thinking of two friends that went before me.  The first is Jess.  Jess was at least a couple of years old then me.  I met him at the Boys Club of Lawrence.  If I have lovingly called someone a “redneck” it would be Jess.  He loved to shoot guns, archery,  drive trucks, and play hide n seek.  Play hide n seek?  Yep!  We divided into two teams and played hide n seek in the woods by where we camped.  But Jess influenced me the most was with guns, air-rifles, and archery.

Of course, he was a good shot with both his air rifle, BB gun, and the bow.  I also became a good shot with both.  In fact, the Boys Club use to give out patches when you accomplished curtain scores in both. Jess and I were the only two boys that ever reached the level of Distinguished Markman with not only the air rifle but with the bow as well.  We had a competitive rivalry.  One year he would win Top Air Riflist and I would be Top Archer.  The next time the awards rolled around we flip-flopped.  He died in a car crash before he was 25.

My other friend that passed to soon was Dane. He was the program coordinator at the Boys and Girls Club. Other than my dad, Dane influenced my life more than any other man. There is a group of men who when younger received Dane’s young man speech. This speech was given sometime in your early teens and usually after you did something “stupid.” Dane would pull you into his office and tell you that you needed to stop acting like a kid and start acting like the young man you were becoming. Dane influenced so many boys and girls and we are all grateful. Unfortunately, Dane lost his life at the very club he loved so much. The kids lost a man they loved and needed.

You may never know the total impact that you will have on this earth. You don’t know if the smile you give a person will prevent a suicide. You don’t know how God might use the love you show a young person. One thing for sure I believe we were all put on the big blue marble to make an impact. The question is what kind of impact are you going to make? A positive one or a negative one? Your decision so choose wisely!