Spanky and Hoosier...

In the course of one's lifetime; you meet many people. White ones. Black ones. Short ones. Tall ones. Big ones. Small ones. Ya know, they're everday people. (hmmm.... are you humming the song yet?)

Every once in awhile; you meet someone unique and in a moment in time that can only happen once; brought together when God orders time, place and circumstances to line up perfectly. Such was the case when I met an affable fellow named "Hoosier."

Now, I am not at all sure what a Hoosier is exactly. I know the term originates from living in one of the most boring states a man could live in... Indiana. I mean, what else is a man from Indiana, if he is going to nickname himself a name; going to call himself?

Mishawaka? Gary? Bobby "the" Knight? Slim picken', if ya asked me. So? Why not Hoosier?

So, here are two middle aged men; both hiking along the Appalachian Trail- arriving at one of those three-sided wilderness trail shelters.

Our introductions went something like this: "Hey! You a hiker?" "Yah! You too?" What else would we be? We were two grown men in the middle of nowhere- carrying our life's possessions on our backs and wearing clothes that haven't been washed in several days... gee whiz! "What is you name fella?" "Hoosier. What's yours?" "Spanky."

You could just see it coming... I didn't know what a Hoosier was anymore than he knew what a Spanky was. We both busted out laughing.

Over the next several hours- long past the time when a hiker should have gone to sleep; we shared stupid jokes, sang oldies songs from the sixties, talked about our past, where we were in the present and what we hoped for the future. At some point, one of us must have finally dozed off chuckling about something...

I think about Hoosier every now and then. I am thankful for the brief time we spent together. I became a richer man for meeting him. I hope he is doing well. He sure loved his kids.

"The steps of a man are established by the LORD, when he delights in his way; though he fall, he shall not be cast headlong, for the LORD upholds his hand. I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. He is ever lending generously, and his children become a blessing. Turn away from evil and do good; so shall you dwell forever." The Book of Psalms (Bible) 37:21-27