Two Buddies: Sterling, 10, and Rob, Several Decades Older

Sterling is about ten years old.  His buddy Rob is seven decades or so older.  But they get along fine, just as two guys having fun should do.

Rob is one of my fellow emeritus professors from Anderson University.  He and Sterling became fast friends at church.  Rob's wife was in an assisted living center, and Sterling started sitting with Rob in the worship service.

In a devotional in the church's Advent booklet from last year, Sterling admitted he and the other "boy" sometimes cut up during the service.  But still, Sterling's mother, who is one of the ministers, lets him sit with Rob.

Sterling is a member of the church, after making his profession of faith and being baptized.  Rob had been going to that church quite a while but had not moved his membership from another church when the two became friends.  

Then, one Sunday, Rob felt it was high time for him to join the church he had been attending.  In the good Baptist tradition, an invitation song was sung after the sermon. So Rob stepped out into the aisle to make his way to the front where the pastor was waiting to receive anyone who registered a public decision.

As Rob started toward the altar, he felt someone right at his elbow.  He glanced down.  There was Sterling walking close by his side.  Sterling had seen family members accompany their dear ones to the front.  So he went along with his good friend Rob to greet the preacher.

In the words of John Fawcett's hymn, "The fellowship of kindred minds is like to that above."