Last man standing

I sent 50 invitations to 50 different people

people who I love, friends and family

I asked them to meet me on a Friday afternoon

at my favorite park, under my favorite tree

The heading of the letter read "If things get tough

how many of you would truly be there for me?"

On the day of the meeting, 47 showed up

and already I knew I was abandoned by 3



As I glanced at my loved ones underneath the tree

I looked each and every one eye to eye

and I read the first question that I wrote on a list

"How many of you would leave me if I told you a lie?"

For a not-so-brief period there was an awkward silence

and I watched a plane as it raced across the sky

By the time that airplane had flown out of sight

9 from my group had said goodbye



I started second-guessing as I went back to my list

but I knew this was something that I had to do

I had to find out, I had to have no doubt

out of all of these people, whose love was true

I took a moment and then I read the next question

"Who would stay if I stole from you?"

I knew this one was tough, but I wasn't prepared

when 16 walked and I was down to 22



As the questions grew harder and my group got smaller

I knew right there and I knew right then

that for the right reason they were all going to leave

I didn't know who for what and I didn't know when

but I knew I'd find out as I presented more questions

to these 22 children, women and men

"If I betrayed you right now, who of you would leave?"

Just over half, and all that stood were 10



These were the ten who I could count on the most

The ten that I thought would surely never run

and as I looked out across my suddenly small circle

I saw those who truly who loved me, right from day one

I saw my mom, standing tall, holding hands with my brothers

and all of my kids, down to my youngest son

Then I noticed a man who I didn't quite know

as I reached down in my bag and pulled out a gun



I held the gun up over my head

"Bang!" "Bang!" "Bang!" I fired three in the air

then I watched the confusion run through my family

and I cried as I watched them scatter everywhere

My mom screamed for my brothers to gather up the kids

and I'll never forget each tear-filled stare

as they, too, left because we all have our limits

and all that remained was one man standing there



He didn't seem nervous and he didn't seem scared

he just reached in his bag and pulled out some bread

I screamed "Are you crazy?! Don't you see this gun?"

Then I aimed the barrel straight at his head

I was full of anger that this stranger was the last man standing

when everyone else had already fled

and just at that moment I viewed my entire life

inside a single teardrop that he shed



I didn't know who he was or how he got invited

so I yelled "Who are you, and why didn't you leave me, too?"

and he just stood there in the park as it started getting dark

and the words that I screamed it seemed weren't getting through

Then he slowly put away his bread and he opened up his arms

and I walked up to this man that I didn't think I knew

He said "I am your Father, your Savior, your Lord

and this love is unconditional, this love I have for you."



He put his arm around my shoulder and offered me these words

"There is nothing you can do, my son, that would make me walk away

and out of all the times you've left me, I've always kept you close

because my love is absolute, it knows no other way

My love serves two purposes, it exists for two reasons

to love you, of course, and to save you today

Now sit with me, Michael, just for a moment..."

and he bowed his head and he began to pray



I knew right then, as my anger disappeared

that this man lost in prayer, lost in concentration

was more than a man who didn't leave me this day

he was a man of truth, a man of true dedication

and I knew he'd never leave, as he whispered his prayers

"...trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation...."

He was the only one that stayed, the only one that prayed

He was my light, my life...my true salvation