Hobie

Hobie was an older man that Helder particularly enjoyed working with. He found his easy Kentucky manner pleasing to be around, he had huge ears, and Hobie was a great storyteller. Looking back, he envisioned Hobie having a rather Wendall Berry view of the world. Noticing that he had not seen him around for a few days, he asked one of his other mates if he had seen him. Hobie was in a local hospital suffering from cancer.

Helder noticed immediately upon seeing Hobie that he was very sick. Hobie had a large malignant tumor removed from the Left side of his neck. The scar was fresh; at that time, scans revealed that cancer had invaded the lymph system on his left side. He had lost 40 pounds. They would do scans the following morning to determine the involvement on his right side and said when they got the results, they hoped to tell him how many weeks he had left to live.

They talked about the weather, the Broncos, and how it was going at work. Hobie told him how much he appreciated the visit—he had been told by other visitors to expect Helder to come, as Helder had a reputation for ‘religion’—and how kind it was of him. Helder replied, May I pray with you before I leave?”

Hobie began to cry. Big tears rolled down his cheeks and into his beard. Then sobs. He and his wife were not religious people. They had left the scary superstitious sermons and impossible morality codes of Southern Christian Fundamentalism native to the hill people far behind them when they fled Kentucky to be married and live in any place other than that place. Even so, no one has ever outrun the Spirit, and wherever they went, She went also. She Loved them. Buried deep always was the hope that She would come for them. Tears of relief. She came. Hobie was no longer alone.

Helder prayed with his right hand on Hobie’s chest, “Father, I ask you for Hobie’s life.” He said his goodbyes and left the room.

Hobie called him early the next week. “So…what did the scans show?” “They said they made a mistake; there is no cancer—voice cracking—anywhere in my body. Could you come to the house and help my wife and me understand this?” Helder went. They had a nice breakfast. Hobie returned to work a short time later.