The Cocoon

Troy had been married now for two years. His wife, Sarah, was a kind woman who loved her husband and would do anything for him. They used to have so much fun together. They traveled town to town looking for any adventure they could get caught up in. When they weren’t traveling Troy was busy with his band.

For years now he had chased his dream of making it big in the music business. Sarah was his biggest supporter and fan, but her joy began to dwindle the more Troy drank. She didn’t notice it all that much at first, but now with a new baby girl in the picture Sarah became all too aware of Troy’s drinking and self-centeredness.

He would constantly leave her home alone with the baby while his desire for fame, and his craving for the night life called to him. It became very apparent to Sarah that Troy’s life was on a path of self-destruction.

The more she tried to confront him the angrier he became. The more she tried to reason with him the more he felt like his family was holding him back from his dream. Resentment became evident in his words and in his actions.

Sarah never gave up on Troy. She loved him with all her heart. Each night she prayed for him to come to his senses. In tears she prayed for restoration of their marriage. Day by day she grew more and more exhausted trying to keep it together and yet day by day their lives were crumbling.

Troy worked at a small engine shop in town. It was a good paying job which allowed him to support his music career and his family, though, he neglected his family giving them the short end of the stick as they say. He never intended to stay there his whole life always looking forward to the day his music would pay off. That day never came.

***

Monday seemed to come quick. Troy woke up in the hallway again passed out from drinking. The baby was crying in another room. Sarah on her way to tend to the baby and frustrated with the situation kicked Troy in the gut, “Are you going to work today?”

Troy’s head was pounding, and he was disoriented. Late night jam session with the guys turned into a drunk fest. He forced himself to stand. He went to the restroom and washed his face with cold water.

Reluctantly, Troy was able to get ready for work and arrive just in time. The sound of small engines and the smell of exhaust on a typical day was something he loved, but not this day. On this day, his stomach was sour. His head pulsated with pain. His pores were clammy with the remnant of ingested alcohol hours before.

“Hey Troy!” the manager called out. “I want you to meet Jordan. He just started working here today and I want you to show him around and help him get started.”

Jordan reached out his hand with a large smile, “Nice to meet you!”

Troy looked at his hand then heartlessly shook it. “Yeah, great to meet you,” Troy said in somewhat of a grumpy voice not even looking in the eye. “Follow me.”

Jordan seemed excited to get to work and was looking forward to Troy showing him the ropes and getting him plugged in. Jordan was not the kind of guy to let the negativity that was exuding from Troy’s demeanor affect him.

***

Work was about end and Troy couldn’t wait to get home, eat whatever his wife Sarah had cooked and then head to band practice. He was looking forward to finishing a new song they had been working on.

“Hey Troy!” Jordan called out. “Thanks for showing me around today. I may be the new guy, but I am not new to work, and I know how much of a setback it can be training the new guy.”

“Yeah. Sure.” Troy said as he made his way to the time clock to punch out. In all actuality the new guy Jordan annoyed him. All day long he kept thinking to himself, why me! This guy is so weird! He hoped that tomorrow things would be back to normal, and he wouldn’t have to be around this guy any longer.

***

Tuesday morning came. New day, same stuff. Troy was functioning a lot better than the day before. Troy clocked in and head to his workstation. Jordan was already there waiting on him. “The boss said I am with you again today,” Jordan said with a huge smile. “He said there was no one better to train with.”

Troy was grieved about the situation but there was nothing he could do about it. “Yeah, that’s cool,” Troy said. “Let’s get to it.”

As they worked, Jordan began to strike up a conversation in hopes of possibly winning over troy in some way. “You attend a local church?” Jordan said already having a clue about what the answer might be.

“No. I don’t go to church,” troy said. “I don’t guess I have time for it,” he continued.

“Well, I am going to a Wednesday night service tomorrow and there is going to be some good food. You think you might want to go? I mean, there is going to be free food.” Jordan threw in that last bit hoping for some leverage to get Troy to come.

Troy was already annoyed with this guy and didn’t even like the sound of his voice. He thought what he might say in response. “I think I am going to be drinking some Jack Daniels with some friends tomorrow, so, yeah, I am going to be busy,” Troy said with a smirk.

***

Day after day Jordan worked with Troy. Day after day Jordan asked Troy about church and talked to him about Jesus and the Bible and day after day Troy became more and more annoyed with him. It even came to the point where Troy was thinking about looking for another job.

Friday came. New day, same stuff. Jordan was waiting for Troy at his workstation. “Good morning!” Jordan said with a smile as always.

“Well, it’s morning” Troy said with a smirk and started fumbling around through his toolbox to get prepared for the day.

“Hey! There is going to be a retreat for guys this weekend with a couple of guest speakers,” Jordan said leaning up against the work bench. “There is a huge pond out there and there is going to be fishing, grilling, and the food is going to be awesome!” Jordan continued. “If you want to go, I will totally get your ticket! It’s going to be a great time. Just the guys hanging out doing guy stuff. Do you want to go?”

“Uh, no. That sounds like a terrible time. I do not want to go. Plus, I have a gig this weekend,” Troy responded. “I tell you what, if you come to my gig, I will buy you your first three beers. How about that?” Troy said with a light chuckle.

Jordan shook his head and looked toward his feet. Troy was finding a bit of joy in knowing that he gave Jordan a little despair seeing he no longer had his huge smile. Jordan raised his head, “No, that’s okay.”

***

Monday morning. Troy is standing at his workstation talking to another employee about how amazing his gig went over the weekend. Working to recruit new fans and share stories that highlight the event. There was no Jordan. Troy was feeling free from the annoyance of his trainee.

5 minutes after 8 Jordan walks in. Troy lets out a huge sigh. That’s just great! he’s back! He thought. “What happened to you?” troy asked.

“I had some car trouble this morning and needed a jump from my neighbor,” Jordan responded.

“Yeah, sorry to hear that. Well, let’s get to it,” troy said opening his toolbox.

“Hey!” Jordan said. “I know you are annoyed by me and don’t much like working with me. I get it. I just want to tell you that while I was at the retreat, I thought about you and bought you a recording of the three speakers talks. I know you probably don’t want it, but if you listen to it just one time, I will leave you alone and never bother you about church or anything else again. I might even come to one of your shows.

Troy looked at Jordan, taken back by his request. “So, if I listen to these three talks you won’t bother me anymore and you’ll come to one of my shows?” Troy asked.

“You got it,” Jordan replied.

“DEAL!” troy said taking the CD from Jordans hand.

***

Troy sat in his truck at lunch eating his sandwich listening to the radio dreaming about his band coming over the airwaves. The light from the sun shifted and reflected off the CD in the passenger seat beaming Troy in the eyes. He took the CD and put it into the truck stereo looking forward to some peace at work.

As he sat there listening to the Gospel of Jesus being preached Troy noticed the trees starting to shake from a force of wind that began to blow. In a moment his heart felt overwhelmed by the message and then warmed as if filled with something he had never felt. He wasn’t sure what was happening to him, but something was definitely happening.

Something inside broke. Tears began to flow down his cheek. Was it the message or something more? Was it both? In that moment it was like Troy was coming out of some kind of cocoon. Like new life was taking over inside. He was one way before and now…

He wasn’t sure. It was like life was starting all over again for the first time. A sense of rejuvenation. He didn’t know what to do. Troy finished work and went home. He walked through the door ran past Sarah and started digging in his closet. He found a Bible his mother gave him when he was a kid.

He opened it and started reading in the gospel of John. He stopped when he came to the passage where Jesus said, “Unless you are born again you cannot enter the kingdom of God.” The tears began to flow. He ran out of the room. He hugged Sarah like she hadn’t been hugged in a long time.

“I don’t know how to explain it,” Troy said, “But things are going to change.” And they did change. They changed forever. Troy and Sarah went on to live a wonderful life raising their now, two little girls. Troy still played music but now it was for the Lord in a local church.

Today Troy’s favorite verse is, “It is no longer I who lives, but Christ lives in me and this life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20). He enjoys playing guitar for his kids and selflessly devoting his time and efforts to Sarah, the one who prayed non-stop and remained faithful when times were hard. And shall I close this story with, “THE END?” Maybe for now, but the story goes on and even into eternity.