Charles Colson and Writers We Befriend

I had a young friend a few years back who decided he was going to marry a particular writer after reading her book. He moved to New York and started stalking her, showing up at book signings and trying to keep track of her whereabouts. I don't think he was dangerous but I did try to convince him he was being very creepy.

The closest to that I've ever gotten was to ask a writer whose book I admired to come and lecture at my college. I found it shocking when she said yes and for very little money. Even more surprising to me was that they she decided I was a worthy friend and started asking me to go to dinner with her and sometimes friends. We kept up for a couple of years until she left the country.

When Chuck Colson died in April, I was reminded again of how close we can begin to feel to people who touch us with ideas. I never met Mr. Colson, but I read his book "Born Again" in adolescence and a number of his other books through the years. Then I began reading his writing in Christianity Today, a nearly monthly meeting that greatly influenced my thinking. I admired the way he thought about things; I was in awe at the power of a transformed life that he lived out.

I was a toddler when Watergate played out and I don't remember any of it first-hand. I can only trust that Chuck Colson was that underhanded, do anything for power guy that I've read about. To me, he was a wise grandfather who had much to say that was relevant to anyone wanting to live out a love for God in a thoughtful and purposeful way.

Someday in heaven I will seek out a few people that were important to my life. I will meet Chuck then. I plan on having him and Ronald Reagan over sometime.

Check out this great tribute to Chuck:

Charles Colson: Defender of the Weak, Hugger of Lepers, Friend of Sinners, Christian Intellectual