I met Eric Adcock on the campus of Howard Payne University28 years ag. Our first encounter was not friendly. We were in a pickup basketball game after classes one afternoon. We were on opposite teams. I saw him around campus but had no intentions of getting to know him. That afternoon basketball game was heated. Both teams went back and forth. In those days, the winning team stayed on the court to play another game while the losers had to wait to play again after those on the sidelines got their chance to play.
I was not guarding Eric. He got open for a three pointer and I left my man to hustle to contest the shot. Just as I got there, and he released the ball he said, "Ball game!" The shot went in causing my team to lose. I loathed him after that. I resolved the next time I played against him I would guard him and shut him down.
One afternoon I meandered to the third floor tv room. We did not have cable in our rooms. I can't remember going to that tv room before that day. I was bored. Tired of classes and not interested in tackling homework. When I walked into the room and saw the only person there was Eric, I was not a happy camper. I sat far away from him sullen and silent.
Anybody who knows Eric knows he is an extrovert. He finally broke the ice. He forced me to talk to him. Then he asked those famous words, "You want to go to the cafeteria and get dinner." Our bond was forged that day. From then on, we were always together. We shared a love for sports. We could not have been more different in most every conceivable way except two areas. We both loved Jesus, and we loved sports.
In time, Eric became my roommate. We laughed. Made memories. Shared meals. Dreamed our dreams and enjoyed college life. We played pickup basketball every chance we could when I was not at football practice. Eric came from a tradition family with one older brother and both parents still married. I came from a dysfunctional broken home.
Eric introduced me to Brenda. Eric was the catalyst for helping me get several ministry jobs. He has stood loyally beside me through the best and worst of times. He was my obvious choice to be the best man in our wedding.
Over the years we have ministered at revivals, camps, and retreats. I am the preacher, and he plays the tunes with his guitar. I stand amazed watching Eric. He is gifted more than he knows. He is great with people. He has a way of making people feel important. He is very connected and cares about people. He talks to a former secretary he has not worked with in twenty years weekly even though she lives in another state. He keeps up many people. Always finding those discouraged souls and building them up.
In the darkest season of my life Eric has been there. He prays for me. He loves me at my best and my worst. He does not judge me though he has plenty of ammunition to do so. He believes in me when I don't believe in myself. I admire him more than he knows. I wish I were more like him. More trusting of people. More talented and creative. More caring. More gifted. More successful.
I have found Eric a wise and trusted counselor. I do not make big decisions without consulting Brenda and Eric along with a couple of other people. He allowed me the honor to preach his parents' funerals. We have wept together. We have consoled one another in the tough stretches. We have been there to help when one has a need.
Eric has been loyal to me. He has given and given to me when it feels like I have sucked him dry emotionally, spiritually, and at times financially. Eric has seen me at my worst. He is patient with me. When I have gotten a wild hair idea, he has counseled me against some of them. Others he has supported me even when it did not make sense to him what I was doing. He has never made me feel inferior though he serves in a bigger church than I ever have, has had more success than I ever have, and makes more money than I do. He has never thrown those things in my face. He respects me.
Most of all Eric just loves me. The real me. He has loved with actions as much as with words. He loyally supports me even when I fail. He courageously speaks the hard words of truth I may not want to hear but need to hear. He is kind beyond description. Eric is a servant and often serves me.
When I see him standing on a stage with his guitar strapped playing and singing songs of praise I admire Him. I am awed by his gift and ability to lead people to the feet of Jesus in joyous celebration as well as in tender adoration. God has used him numerous times to move me to tears before I preached.
Eric has lots of friends. Thousands. I have only a few. He does not need me but graciously makes time for me. I really bring little value into our friendship. He is closer than a brother. He is a brother born for sticking close in adversity. One of God's greatest gifts to me outside my salvation and family is Eric's friendship. A treasured blessing. I pay tribute to him today well deserved and woefully belated.
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