marcwelding

the Governor came to visit the place where I work, Bobby Orr passed through another place I worked and I did some tree work at Senator Kennedy’s house once….

but, the coolest thing was- when I met Dr. Who.

it was 1984 and I was a senior in High School -we had gone to a science fiction convention in Boston, and Tom Baker was going to be the special guest. the actual Tom Baker.

as it turned out, his plane was delayed and an announcement was made that he was running late. The announcer said that there would be no time for him to talk or to answer any questions, and the tiny convention* (this was way before Comic-Con)  was ending at like 9:30 and we would have to leave the room. (there were a lot of sad geeks)

* it was just one room.

ironically Dr Who is a Time Lord and the fact that he had to travel on an airplane was silly enough- but Tom Baker’s character did lend itself to him being late.. so it kinda worked. ok- Not really, we were sad. 😦

and then, another  announcement was made: ‘Although it was almost 9:30 and we were going to have to leave…. Tom Baker was going to arrive shortly and we would be able to shake hands with him as we were all leaving!’

next thing you know- we all get in a big line and he appears at the door wearing the scarf and big coat! then we start going out past him- he is smiling and saying he’s sorry his plane was late but – it’s so cool to see him and as I got closer I could hear his voice, and then….. it was my turn.

He stretched out his big hand and gave me a great hearty handshake and ……I will never forget what he said to me.

He looked at me with those big Tom Baker eyes and said, (in a very english accent) “Good bye”

it was awesome. it was quite profound actually.

I had just recently become a Christian and I was (strangely) growing up, I was moving out of my parents house and starting my life- I had a girlfriend and I planned on getting married. (I did marry her and we are still happy) It was time to say goodbye to a few things.

When Tom Baker said ‘goodbye’ it was like he was telling me, “we had fun, now you can go on and, thank you”

These ‘famous’ people I met are just people- like you always hear, “I met so-and-so and they are totally normal, they’re just like regular folks”.  We are all just people, we are unique, special, different and yet there is something that puts us all on the same playing field: ‘all have sinned’

this creates the possibility of help for all. the possibility of love for all. the possibility of forgiveness for all. a new beginning for all. and heaven for all, because “all who call on the name of the Lord, shall be saved” Romans, 10:13

The most important person I ever met is Jesus. I did not have to wait in line, or buy tickets or ‘be the right caller…’ I simply called and said I was sorry and believed that He had paid the price for me and ….bam, there He was- to pick me up and set me on a new path with Him.

the rest is – just make sure you stay on the path, it is narrow but it is the path to Life.

Join me, I would love to introduce someone famous to you- He actually wants to meet you!