During my wrestling career in high school, I had the opportunity to spend time with a man named Phil. We liked to call him, “Filthy Phil.” He’s two years older than me. I had met him before I joined the wrestling team, but it wasn’t until I joined that I actually got to know Phil on a more personal level. Until then, I just knew that he was a funny guy. And once I did get to know Phil, I found out that a lot of his character was different than the rest of the world.
He was caring. During my first year of wrestling, Phil was far larger than I and far better as well. But that didn’t stop him from teaching me, and from taking it easy on me when we wrestled so I could learn more, unlike some members of the team that wanted to beat up the new kid.
He stood up for me. I vividly remember a time that our team huddled up after a tournament. And while our coach called out different varsity members for doing things really well (or poorly), Phil called out me, a boy just a few weeks into wrestling, for doing something well.
Phil was not perfect by any means, but he went against the grain of what people thought you ought to do, or how to act. He wasn’t the best wrestler ever, or even just on our team, but he was different because it wasn’t all about himself. That’s something that’s easy to get caught up in as a wrestler.
So why am I writing all of this? I’m currently on my sabbath, and for some reason Phil came to mind. At that moment, I was overwhelmed by this feeling of compassion and care for Phil that I knew was only from the Lord, because before this moment I hadn’t thought of Phil in years. For some reason the Lord’s heart is breaking for Phil, and so he broke mine too.
Phil, if you somehow read this, I need you to know a few things. First that the Lord loves you deeply, and that you are seen by him. Second that I’m grateful for the things you taught me way back when. And lastly that, whatever you might be going through, God’s far bigger than all of it. I hope you see this. Let me know if you do.
Peace & Blessings
-Parker
