The first time Chaplain Mark* saw Caedmon* he was ambling down the hall like a gorilla. “I’m gonna cause some trouble,” he roared.
As the chaplain herded the boys into small group time, Caedmon lived up to his threat. Over time he developed a reputation for being a bit of a troublemaker. Despite this, Chaplain Mark really worked to build a relationship with the young man.
But one day things changed for Caedmon.
During Campus Life Military Club, a leader talked about the types of characters we find in movies. She explained that there’s a big difference between a support role and the main character of a film. She closed with a challenge: “Is Jesus the main character in your life or are you?”
In small group discussions later that night Chaplain Mark readdressed the question with the boys. “Who’s the main character of your life? You or Jesus?”
At first Caedmon was unsure, but then he surprised everyone. “I think I’d like to make Jesus the main character of my life,” he said. “I just never thought of it that way before.”
The chaplain asked him if he’d like to pray to God himself. As Caedmon bowed his head he prayed, “God I want to follow you my whole life. I want you to be the main character. Help me to follow you.”
At the end of Club, as they were heading out, Caedmon turned to Chaplain Mark privately and said, “I don’t want to cause trouble anymore. I’m going try to stop causing trouble.”
And he has.
