Stu Webber, a pastor and author, writes of his experience in the U.S. Army Ranger School at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1967.  Young men were exhausted, trying to survive the heat, humidity and painful rigors of camp, knowing that their final destination, Vietnam, was a very real possibility.

Webber writes of the day the raspy voice of the drill sergeant barked out his first, passionate speech. “We are here to save your lives,” he told the young men headed for combat. “First, we’re going to see to it that you overcome all your natural fears. … And second, we are going to show you just how much incredible stress the human mind and body can endure. And when we’re finished with you, you will be the U.S. Army’s best! America’s best. You will be confident. You will survive, even in combat. And you will accomplish your mission!”

The sergeant gave Webber and his fellow recruits their first assignment. These guys were ready for anything. They had prepared for a 10-mile run in full battle gear. They’d already envisioned rappelling down a sheer cliff. So, what would be the tough guy’s first tough order?

“Find yourself a Ranger buddy,” he growled. “You will stick together. You will never leave each other. You will encourage each other, and, as necessary, you will carry each other.” As brusque as the sergeant was, he realized that tough tasks require a friend.

In the Introduction to Education class I am teaching this year, I have invited a myriad of individuals to speak to my students.  Few are classroom teachers.  Most are individuals who, like teachers, make a difference in the lives of others.  Katie, a federal parole officer, addressed my students a few weeks ago.  Not only does she work with felons, she also has joined forces with my son’s anti-sex-trafficking foundation to teach recovered women how to turn their lives around.

Ahead of time, the students prepare questions for the guest speaker, but they struggled with this assignment…until Katie shared her mission of making a difference.  When Trent asked if she believes there is hope for everyone, no matter how evil they are, Katie did not hesitate.

“Absolutely!” she answered.  “I believe that there is good in everyone.  Sometimes, it’s just a little harder to find it.” She continued, sharing that as a Christian, she believes that God creates everyone with a purpose.

I’ve thought of Katie’s comment and wondered how many potential “friends” I failed to “find the good in.”  People with irritating or unkind or “unforgiveable” traits.  How much of my time has been devoted to encouraging them to be less irritating or less unkind or less unforgiveable?  Granted, I’m not going to find myself in a fox-hole with that person, and my life may never depend on them, but as a Christian, aren’t I called to invest in their lives?  To see the good in them as opposed to dwelling on the bad?

Jesus did that.  He chose twelve, but only one stayed near him at his crucifixion, and that was John, the apostle who later wrote about one of the others, Thomas. Thomas deserted Jesus and the other disciples and was not present when Jesus appeared to them after his resurrection.  When the disciples told Thomas they had seen Jesus, he said that he would not believe until he could see the nail prints on Jesus’ hands and put his finger in Jesus’ side.  Eight days later, Jesus gave Thomas that opportunity.

Except for loyal John, Jesus could have ousted all his “close friends” who ran for the hills as he hung, dying on the cross, but Scripture gives no indication that happened.  If Jesus could see good in those who failed him so miserably, what’s my excuse?