While at the grocery store this week I struck up a conversation with an amazing elderly man. The conversation all started with him seeing Kool-Aid in my cart and he told me of his memories of his mother purchasing one packet, when money allowed, for a special treat. He said seeing it in his cart made him smile and remember the taste of it. I had purchased the squeeze bottles of the sweet drink so I took one out and handed it to him and told him to enjoy it tonight. This led to a talk I won’t soon forget.
He went on to tell me of his life and the most heroic story I had ever heard. He was a Vietnam war veteran. In a quick summary he was a well known helicopter pilot who while in air was shot above the eye and in danger of crashing his med-evac helicopter that was filled with injured and dead soldiers. Blinded with blood by his injury, he couldn’t see to finish flying the aircraft and he relied on one soldier who was in the bottom of his aircraft looking through a window who verbally guided him where and how to fly by telling him to pull up, turn, or ease down. They safely landed the flight!
He was then rushed into surgery but quickly ignored by surgeons who were sure he was done for. His friend, who carried him in, stood up and threatened harm to all in the operating room if they didn’t do what they could to save the heroic pilot. The friend then picked him up and under the direction of the surgeon took him to a waiting aircraft that was leaving for Japan. My newly admired hero was then flown to Japan, injuries taken care of, and went on to serve one more year in the military training new pilots.
As I stood in this parking lot I was blown away by this quiet spoken man. His story made his voice crack at a few moments and smile at other times as he told it to me. I on the other hand was fighting back tears thankful for all this man had done. He wrapped it up by saying a little while after he had been home, he was taken to Indianapolis and met with George H Bush who awarded him the Medal of Honor for his service. He was proud of this medal and said will occasionally get it out to wear to church to show the children.
I hugged the man and thanked him again for his service, our conversation, and sharing a Kool-Aid with me. As I sat in the car for a second to process it all, the thought that immediately came to mind went back to his aircraft. He had someone in the helicopter who could see where he needed to go even when he couldn’t. He had to trust this man to guide his every move and even though he was blinded by the situation he had to listen to the voice in his headset and trust that he was doing the right thing. Oh, what an amazing reminder of our relationship with Jesus. I have no idea what lies ahead of me in life. I can’t see it and to be honest I shouldn’t attempt any of it on my own. But Jesus is there and if I trust Him fully and listen, He will guide my every step and get me to where I need to be. I am sure panic and fear could have taken over but he had to listen closely and rely fully on his unseen co-pilot. So should I.
I will never forget this hero I met. I do believe every time I buy red Kool-Aid he will come to mind. He gave me a sweet reminder to listen to Jesus in every situation. I do believe no one has lived that out more than this Kool-Aid soldier.