Chris
When I was in his youth choir, three of us wanted either of the two parts in a youth musical for flute. Nathan only had one part, so he insisted we practice at the church. The other two should have been shoe-ins: 2 years older than me, 4 years of band each, and very popular with all the kids. I was a poor kid without friends, and had played just one year -- self-taught from a book. But I doggedly appeared every single Sunday afternoon to practice the 2nd flute part, anyway.
When audition day came, one of the contestants easily won the 1st flute spot. Then Nathan looked back and forth, back and forth, between we two remaining hopefuls. I just knew he'd pick the other kid.
But he didn't. He picked me, and explained to the shocked older kid that, whereas she had practiced only twice in the six previous months, I had practiced for at least 2 hours every single Sunday afternoon during that time.
Nathan's decision radically changed my life, beginning then. "Lazarus" (me at 14) was given the first real hope in my life. And other opportunities followed. He was one of the few church people back then I actually believed was a Christian -- thank you forever, Nathan.
