JESUS SAVES

JOHN WAS ONE OF MANY VETS THAT GOT LOST IN THE WAR IN VIETNAM. HE WAS ALWAYS TROUBLED THAT HE WAS ALIVE AND MANY HIS FRIENDS WERE NOT.   ONE THING SPECIAL WAS ALWAYS EATING AT HIM:   HE WAS A WAR HERO. HE EARNED THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR,  BONZE STAR AND SILVER STAR.   HE HAD SERVE TWO TOURS OF DUTY OVER THERE. IT WAS THE SECOND TOUR THAT IT HAPPENED.

 HIS PLATOON WAS AMBUSHED AND WAS CLOSE TO BEING WIPED OUT WHEN HE GRAB A  M-60 MACHINE GUN FROM DEAD FRIEND AND LAID DOWN A BASE OF FIRE.  PINNED DOWN THE HEADS OF ENEMY AND REST ESCAPE THE FIGHT.

AS THE REST PULL BACK TO LANDING ZONE [L.Z.] HE STAYED BEHIND TO KEEP FIRE UP KEEPING THE ENEMY PIN DOWN SO REST COULD ESCAPE. THIS IS WHERE CAPTAIN MORRIS CAME IN.   HE LEAD REST OUT AND CAME BACK TO HELP JOHN GET OUT ON LAST CHOPPER.

CAPTAIN MORRIS:   JOHN PULL OUT I COVER YOUR WITHDRAW.

CAPTIAN FIRE HIS M-16 TO KEEP ENEMY HEADS DOWN.   AS CAPTAIN WAS FIRING JOHN MOVE BACK AND WAS STRUCK IN THE LEGS BY FIRE AND DOWN HE WENT.   CAPTAIN MORRIS PICK HIM UP ON HIS SHOULDERS AND BACKING UP FIRING FROM HIS M-16 HE CARRIED JOHN BACK TO L.Z.  THE LAST CHOPPER WAS ALREADY OVER LOADED .

'CAPTAIN WE FULL' CAME A VOICE 'ONE YOU CAN GO, ONE GOT STAY.

CAPTAIN MORRIS:  GO ON I MEET YOU AT SECOND L.Z.   HE PUT JOHN ON SHOULDERS AND MADE A RUN FOR IT.   CAPTAIN WAS A BIG MAN STRONG MAN AND LEADER.   CAPTAIN MORRIS MADE THAT RUN THAT DAY WITH JOHN ON HIS SHOULDERS.   NO GREATER LOVE CAN BE THAN RISK YOU LIFE FOR YOUR BROTHER.

CAPTAIN MADE IT TO LZ 2 AND GOT JOHN ON CHOPPER.   THEY BOTH MADE IT OUT THAT DAY. CAPTAIN RECOMMENDED JOHN FOR CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR THAT DAY IN HIS REPORT.  CAPTAIN WROTE

If John had not grab that M-60 machine gun and laid down cover fire the whole platoon would have been wiped out.  He stayed when he could have gone, more he stayed more lives were saved.

JOHN CAME TO A COUPLE DAYS LATER.  HE HAD BOTH LEGS BUT HAVE A LIMP.   HE ASK HOW IS THE CAPTAIN?   WORD HE DIED THE NEXT DAY.   JOHN WAS STUNNED HE WAS ALIVE AND CAPTAIN WAS DEAD. JOHN WAS SENT HOME SOON AFTER AND HE NEVER GOT OVER LOSING THE CAPTAIN.

TWENTY FIVE YEARS LATER JOHN A WINNER OF THE CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR, A DRUNK BUM, TRYING TO  GET TO FLORIDA TO SEE HIS DAUGHTER.   SHE HAVING HIS GRANDBABY,   HE JUST OUT ON HIGHWAY TRYING TO GET TO FLORIDA WITH HIS THUMB.

HE WAS NOT HAVING ANY LUCK AND TEMP WAS TURNING COLD.   WIND WAS PICKING UP.

JOHN MOVE ALONG THE HIGHWAY STICKING OUT HIS THUMB AT EVERY CAR TRUCK CAME BY.

WAS NOT LONG THE SNOW STARTED TO FALL AND WIND PICK UP.   UP IN THE DAKOTAS THIS NOT THE PLACE BE ON FOOT.   JOHN PULL HIS COAT TIGHTER TO HIM, WHAT THERE WAS OF IT AND WALK ALONG THE ROAD TRYING TO KEEP HIS BACK TO THE WIND.   IT WAS CHRISTMAS EVE AND LOOKS LIKE A BLIZZARD IN THE MAKING AND JOHN ON FOOT IN THE MIDDLE OF NO WHERE.

JOHN LOOK UP AND SAID GOD WHY THIS NOW... HAVE MERCY ON MY SINFUL SOUL. THE WIND JUST PICKED UP.   SNOW GOT HEAVER.   JOHN KNEW THIS IS COULD BE THE END HE HAD BEEN LOOKING FOR.   SOON JOHN GOT IN DITCH AND LAID DOWN TO GET OUT THE WIND.   HE SAID CAPTAIN I WILL BE JOINING YOU SOON.

    JOHN LAID  IN THE DITCH IN THE FETAL POSITION SHIVERING FROM THE COLD.   JOHN HEARD A SET OF BREAKS  SQUEAL AS A BUS CAME TO A STOP.   DOOR SWUNG OPEN AND A VOICE ASKING  YOU WANT A RIDE?

JOHN LOOK UP THERE WAS AN OLD SCHOOL BUS  THAT HAD BEEN CONVERTED INTO A CAMPER.

ON THE SIDE IN BIG RED LETTERS  JESUS SAVES IN DRIPPING RED PAINT.

  JOHN GOT UP STAGERS TO THE BUS STEP UP AND SIT DOWN IN FRONT SET.   THE DOOR CLOSE AND  THE BUS WAS ON IT WAY. THE DRIVER HANDED JOHN A CUP COFFEE IN A EASY WAY ,AND SAID HERE SOME SPIRITS FOR YOUR SOUL. AS JOHN SIP THE COFFEE WHICH WAS GOOD , FIXED JUST LIKE JOHN LIKE HIS WITH TWO SUGARS SLIGHT CREAM.

  THE RADIO WHICH LOOK TO NOT BE ON PLAYED CHRISTMAS MUSIC  AND BACK BEHIND THE DRIVER A SMALL MANGER SEEN  ON A TABLE TOP.  SOMETHING DID NOT LOOK RIGHT ABOUT THE DRIVER. THE SKIN WAS TIGHT ABOUT THE BONE AND HIS COLOR WAS A DARK BLUE. JOHN THOUGHT THIS LOOKS LIKE A HOLLY WOOD SCENE.  

JOHN ASKED HOW DID YOU SEE ME LAYING IN THE DITCH?   DRIVER LOOKS AROUND AT HIM "JUST LUCKY FOR YOU I DID ".

   THIS OLD BUS WAS MOVING DOWN ROAD WHICH TRUCKS FEAR TO TREAD WITH NO PROBLEMS.

JOHN:   WHAT KIND TIRES YOU GOT ON THIS BUS TO MOVE LIKE THIS OVER FROZEN ROAD.  

DRIVER:   THEY ARE G.W. TIRES.  THEY GO ANY WHERE.

JOHN:   G .W. TIRES NEVER HEARD OF THEM.

DRIVER LOOK AT JOHN:   THEY GO WHERE GOD WILL THEM TO GO.

JOHN:   AM I DEAD?

DRIVER: YOU STILL OF THIS WORLD.

  RADIO SWITCHES TO NEW SONG O HOLY NIGHT. THERE WAS A CLAP OF THUNDER.   DRIVER LOOK UP AND SAY YES SIR, AND GOT OUT THE DRIVER SEAT AND MOVE TO SIT BEHIND JOHN.  THE BUS STILL DOING  60 MPH.   JOHN REACH FOR THE WHEEL AND DRIVER GRAB JOHN AND PULL HIM BACK.   DRIVER SAID THE BOSS GOT THE WHEEL NOW SO I CAN TALK TO YOU.

JOHN WIDE EYED NOW AS HE WATCH THE CLUTCH  PUSHED IN AND GEAR SHIFT SHIFTING GEARS.   ACCELERATOR GOING DOWN TO THE FLOOR.

DRIVER:  THE BOSS LIKE TO DRIVE THESE OLD BUSSES.  JOHN I NEED TO TALK TO YOU.   DO NOT WORRY YOU IN GOOD HANDS.

THE DRIVER LOOK AT JOHN:  MAYBE YOU UNDER STAND IF I CHANGE A LITTLE.

THE DRIVER FACE GOT FULLER COLOR CAME BACK TO HIM .

JOHN(sobbing):   CAPTAIN I AM SORRY YOU GOT KILLED ON ACCOUNT OF ME.

CAPTAIN:  JOHN YOU HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH MY DEATH.   I WAS NOT HURT ANY THAT DAY I GOT YOU TO THE LZ.   THEY RELEASE ME FOR DUTY.   I WENT BACK NEXT DAY WITH THE COMPANY.   MY CHOPPER WAS HIT BY ROCKET FIRE I NEVER MADE IT IN.   MY BONES AND TEN OTHERS POOR SOLES LAY IN THAT DAM JUNGLE. JUST THEN CLAP THUNDER.                                                                                                                                                CAPTAIN :  SORRY SIR.

CAPTAIN:  JOHN YOU BEEN BEATING YOURSELF UP OVER NOTHING.   IT COST YOU YOUR WIFE AND FAMILY.   YOUR WIFE BLESS HER SOUL UNDER STANDS NOW AND IS WITH US. YOUR DAUGHTER IS NOW HAVING YOUR GRANDSON IN A HOUR.   SHE GOING TO NEED YOU THERE TO HELP HER  RAISE HIM.  

JOHN:   SHE GOT HER HUSBAND TO HELP HER.  HE IS IN IRAQ IN DESERT STORM  AND COMING HOME ANY DAY NOW.

CAPTAIN JUST LOOKS DOWN.

JOHN:   HE NOT COMING BACK IS HE? "

CAPTAIN:   THEY GOING TO NEED YOU BAD JOHN. YOU GOT TO STOP BEATING YOUR SELF AND PULL YOUR SELF TOGETHER FOR THEM.   HERE A CARD.  REMEMBER  RED DOG THE RED HEAD PRIVATE.

JOHN:   YES?                                                                                                                  CAPTAIN :HE HAS A CONSTRUCTION COMPANY.   NEED GOOD CARPENTERS.

CAPTAIN:   BOSS ALWAYS LIKE CARPENTERS. SAME TOWN WHERE YOUR DAUGHTER LIVES.

BUS SLOWS DOWN GEAR SHIFTS TO LOWER GEAR.    RADIO CHANGES SONG NOW SILENT NIGHT NOW PLAYING.

JOHN:   YOU THINK THEY HAVE WORK FOR ME THERE.

CAPTAIN:   WE SEE TO IT JOHN.   JUST TRUST US. CAPTAIN LEANS OVER TOWARDS DRIVER SEAT AND THEN BACK UP.  HE SAYS HUGO FIX IT FOR YOU.

JOHN:   HUGO?

CAPTAIN JUST SHRUG HIS SHOULDERS LIKE 'GOT ME.'

CAPTAIN:  JOHN YOU JUST REST THERE AND TAKE A NAP.  BOSS READY GIVE IT BACK.  CAPTAIN GOT UP AND TOOK THE DRIVER SET AGAIN  AND STARTED TO DRIVE . JOHN EASE OFF IN TO SLUMBER LAND AND THE BUS WITH JESUS SAVES ROLLS RIGHT ALONG.

JOHN WAS WAKING BY THE STOP OF THE BUS. HE LOOK OUT THE WINDOW HE AT A HOSPITAL. HE TURN TO THE DRIVER.  THE CAPTAIN WAS STILL IN THE SEAT. 

CAPTAIN:  JOHN WE GOT YOU NEW SUIT.   HECK I FORGOT.   SNAP HIS FINGER JOHN HAD FINE NEW SUIT ON NOW.   JOHN TAKE GOOD CARE OF THAT BABY. THE BOSS SAID HE SOMETHING SPECIAL. 'PRESIDENT' I THINK.   SHE IN ROOM 777.  BABY DOING FINE.

JOHN:   WILL I SEE YOU AGAIN CAPTAIN?

CAPTAIN:   55 YEARS OR SO WE MEET AGAIN. THIS IS WHERE YOU GET OFF JOHN.   MERRY CHRISTMAS JOHN.   TO DAY IS MY BOSS BIRTHDAY.  

JOHN GOT OUT THE DOOR.   LOOK AT DOOR OF HOSPITAL THEN LOOK BACK.   THE BUS WAS GONE.   LANDING SOFTLY ON THE SPOT WHERE THE BUS WAS A WHITE FEATHER. JOHN PICK IT UP AND SAID SEE YA CAPTAIN AND STUCK IT IN HIS LAPEL OF HIS SUIT.   THE CAROLERS SINGING AT DOOR OF HOSPITAL STARTED O HOLY NIGHT AS JOHN WENT IN.