Old No. 9

   I did not have a mentor when I was growing up, or later, but I know of a twelve year old boy who did, and I never tire of hearing the heartwarming story of how Old no. 9, as he was affectionately called, had such an impact on the life of his namesake, Young no. 9.

   The boy was no longer called by his real name of Jamie: instead he was simply ‘Young no. 9’. People had tried calling him ‘Little no. 9’ in reference to his size, even just plain ‘No. 9’, but that didn’t work either. So Young no. 9 it was, and his grin from ear to ear whenever someone pronounced it, warmed the hearts of all who heard it.

   ‘Old no.9’ had first met him when he called at the hospice to inquire if there were any widows or orphans in residence. Curious to know the reason for the question, Old no. 9 had said quietly, ‘Religion that is pure and undefiled before God is this: to care for widows and orphans when they are in need, and to remain uncorrupted by the world’.

   The staff immediately recognized that Old no. 9 could bring into a young twelve year old boy’s life very much more than he received from the social workers who came to visit him from time to time, as did, on occasion, staff from the orphanage who had first sent him to the hospice.

   For the past three months, Old no. 9 had come to the hospice every Sunday afternoon from 4 to 6 o’clock. Young no. 9 lived for those visits. As the bewitching hour of 4 o’clock approached, he would listen with rapt attention for the sound of his visitor’s footsteps coming down the hall. Intentionally no one else would make a sound.

   Old no. 9 had been the finest sportsman in his field. He had gone from captaining his school, his university and his country, to being voted the nation’s outstanding coach five years in a row. Indeed, it was he himself who had proposed that five consecutive years be the limit for the award to the same coach. No player in any game had ever worn the no. 9 shirt with greater pride or been held in such high esteem for his conduct, both on and off the field. The finest ambassador the game had ever known, it still made sports aficionados wonder how it was that so gentlemanly a soul off the field could become so determined a player on it.

   Young no. 9 listened spellbound as his visitor took the boy through his scrapbook. Noting how many times Old no. 9’s opponents had been out to ‘get him’ throughout his career, Young no. 9 would get quite worked up, especially when it appeared his visitor never retaliated. Gently, Old no. 9 would remind the boy that, while it was all right to get angry, it was not all right to do anything wrong; also the Lord had said that vengeance was His. Besides, added Old no. 9, “I can do everything through Christ who gives me all the strength I need”.

   “Will He strengthen me?” the boy had asked quietly.

   “Not only will He, He is able”, had been the prompt reply.

   Recognizing the determined look on Young no. 9’s face, Old no. 9 proceeded to tell the boy the heartwarming story of how Jesus had not only healed Jairus’ twelve year old daughter, he had even raised her from the dead. And that after Jesus had been delayed in reaching the young girl by a woman who had been cured of an illness she had had for the past twelve years simply by touching in faith the hem of Jesus’ garment.

   “Two twelve’s and I’m twelve,” the boy had exclaimed, “that must mean something because don’t they say good things come in threes?”

   Old no. 9 had agreed that this was so, recounting as he did so another demonstration of healing spoken of in the Bible, this time by two of Jesus’ disciples, Peter and John. A beggar who had been lame from birth had asked the disciples for money. Peter, looking the man squarely in the eye, had replied that he had no money but what he did have he would give to the lame man. Peter had then said to him, “In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, stand up and walk”, which the man immediately did.

   Old no. 9 had then suggested that they pray quietly for a moment about Young no. 9’s illness and the demonstrated healing power of Jesus.

   “I prayed you’d live for ever,” said the boy on seeing his visitor open his eyes.

   Old no. 9 had gently told Young no. 9 that prayers were a very private and personal way for a person to communicate with God; indeed the Bible admonished us to pray in secret that God might reward us openly. Nevertheless, Old no. 9 had told the boy he didn’t mind Young no. 9 knowing that he had prayed that God would give the boy strength to go on living.

   After a moment or twos reflection, Young no. 9 had quietly got out of bed, got dressed, packed his few belongings in his small knapsack, and asked Old no. 9 to take him home.

   Seeing his visitor’s astonishment, Young no. 9 had said, ‘Well, you didn’t give me any money, so I had to see for myself if you had given me that for which you prayed – strength. I remember your telling me not long ago that when two or three are gathered together in Jesus’ name, He will be right there with them; also, that Jesus had more than once said, “Ask in my name and you will receive.” Well, Jesus is with us, you asked, I received, so let’s go and may God be glorified.”

   And so they did, Young no. 9 becoming, as he is today, a walking miracle.

   In the years that followed, Young no. 9, never strong enough himself to play sports competitively, nevertheless graduated from Old no. 9’s alma mater with a degree in sports journalism. Together they would visit hospices, hospitals, orphanages and insurance companies to seek out widows and orphans in need that they might visit them. It was an especial blessing to come across sports loving children and to bring into their lives, all that Old no. 9 had brought into Young no. 9’s. Indeed, it wasn’t long before the pair were sponsoring sports matches involving youngsters of both genders: to see their erstwhile grief turned into performances of which their fathers would have been so proud was truly a heartwarming experience.

   Separately, and as an intended surprise for Old no. 9, Young no. 9 had been busy applying his growing experience in sports journalism to find out all he possibly could about Old no. 9 with a view to writing a definitive and inspiring biography. Young no. 9 especially wanted to know why it was that so gentlemanly a soul off the field could become so determined a player on it.

   Old no. 9 proved to be a very private person indeed. All that Young no. 9 was able to uncover was that, when first asked to play for his country at the youngest age of any player before or since, Old no. 9 had been asked about the unrivalled determination he displayed on the field.

   His guarded reply was that things were not well at home but as a youth there was little he could do about it until he became of age. Meanwhile, he would use the playing field as his outlet for the anger he was so well able to control, even channel into superlative performances.

   Young no. 9 reflected on the fact that he himself had never had a home, unless a succession of foster homes and orphanages could be so called. But they had taught him of necessity, young though he was, to fend for himself, to strive constantly to improve his lot, and to remain cheerful no matter what the circumstances. This had stood him in good stead when what was thought to be a fatal illness struck and he found himself all but alone in a hospice.

   Old no. 9 did not live forever, but Young no. 9 continues today the work they began together, striving assiduously to assuage a youngster’s grief, as well as their mother’s, through the world of sports, hoping thereby to ensure that all was well in their home.

   When he can find the time, Young no. 9 still works on the biography he is writing about Old no. 9, not least because, amongst the papers Old no. 9 left behind, was this anonymous poem:

   If I should die and leave you here awhile,

   Be not like others sore, who keep long vigils

   By the silent dust and weep.

   For my sake turn again to life and smile,

   Nerving thy heart and trembling hand to do,

   Something to comfort other hearts than thine.

   Complete these dear unfinished tasks of mine

   And I, perchance may therein comfort you.

   Quoting from the Bible, Old no. 9 had once told Young no. 9, that the prayer of a good man is powerful and effective, adding, “I hope you never forget that.” Young no. 9 never has, recalling with heartfelt gratitude the day, many years ago now, when Old no. 9 had prayed for strength, Young no. 9 had received it, and God had been glorified through the healing power of His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ.

For further reading: James 1:27; Ephesians 4:26; Romans 12:19-21; Philippians 4:13; Mark 5:22-43; Acts 3:1-11; Matthew 6:6; 18:19-20; John 16:24; James 5:16