"Holy Joe"

Some of the best advice my Dad ever gave me before I joined the Army was, "Don't be a 'Holy Joe.'" He said a "Holy Joe" is a soldier who is so religious that he becomes unapproachable. He told me that you can be one of the guys without being one of the sinners.

Well, when I arrived for Basic Training at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, there was a trainee there who, I suppose, could be referred to as a "Holy Joe." He was always singing Gospel songs and spouting scriptures and always kept a dumb smile on his face. I'm not saying he was a bad guy, but he was terribly naive.

So, it came to pass that one day, a lot of the guys were sitting around the barracks during a short break. Most were reading mail from home. One guy in particular, seemed terribly struck by the letter he read. Someone noticed and inquired what his problem was. Well, it was pretty bad news, his girlfriend, yes, girlfriend, back home had written to tell him she was pregnant with his child. He was, understandably, and to put it mildly, devastated. He sat there on the end of his bunk bawling like a baby.

The conversation went on for a while when "Joe", who had been listening intently, stood up, and decided to put in his two cents. Yes, "two cents" that amounted to probably a dollar...a dollar too much.

"Joe" stood and began to berate the poor fellow in the worst way. He told him how pathetic people are who continue to do stupid things, like have sex outside of marriage, and then complain when something like this happens. His tone with the distraught trainee was as rough as any drill sergeant could hope to be. Then, once he was finished with his sermon, he stomped out leaving this soon-to-be father and the onlookers in mouth agape astonishment.

That was the scene left by "Holy Joe." Hurt feelings and all. Yes, he was right in his pronouncements, but where was his compassion? Where was his mercy? Could he have possibly been more malicious and thoughtless?

What happened next was, I think, nothing short of a miracle. "Joe" was back in the room within two minutes. I'm sure those present wondered, had he returned for round two? He walked straight to the man he had just emotionally body-slammed. What next?

He began by telling the guy that he was sorry and that he was wrong to talk to him that way. He said further words to the affect that, although the fellow was wrong, he didn't need to be verbally assaulted the way he was. He told him he would pray for him and his girlfriend and if he could do anything to let him know.

Then, "Joe" turned and left the room. To say the least, it left the audience a little amazed.

Joe continued to be his happy self. He and the soon-to-be father had a good relationship. It might be said that "Joe" had retained the respect of the men in his platoon.

Now, what would have happened had "Joe" not returned to that room and set his relationship with that pathetic trainee straight? Would people have only thought of him as a pompous ass and said that "Joe" considered himself superior? Would they have just thought him to be a heartless cad? I think so.

Thankfully, "Joe" managed to salvage a relationship that he had just successfully torpedoed. God, in His mercy, dealt quickly and effectively with "Joe" and saved him from losing the influence that he enjoyed as a serious, devout, though somewhat immature, Christian.

Was "Joe" right in what he said? Was the young man wrong in what he did? Do people set themselves up for the fall and then bemoan their troubles and feel sorry for themselves and wallow in self pity? Yes, to all these questions. Yet, "Joe" was living proof that you can be right and still be wrong.

Funny thing though. That little event took place some twenty-six years ago. Every time it comes to mind, I catch myself asking for the Lord's forgiveness for the way I talked to that poor boy that day. Still, I can't help but feel guilty about it. I just hope I learned my lesson.