A 'giant of a kid' offers kindness, quiet leadership

There are discouraging and disturbing events around the clock it seems. I thought about changing the trajectory of my writing. These recent events, national and global, are on most minds. But I've decided to stay with what I had already written. It's a good story. 

Everybody thinks he's 15. It's because he's so tall and strong. His mother admits she comes from a “family of giants.” She is where he gets his height as well as his curly black hair and dark eyes, and that bit of brown in his skin tone. 

He has just turned 12. His name is Nathaniel, and he's our grandson. I dreaded the day when he and his sisters were going to hear the slander. It happened one day in Newport's city park. Nathaniel politely spoke up, “Please stop saying those mean things to us.” 

He is such a nice, genuine, kind person. “I'll help,” he often offers. Going back to Bible times, he reminds me of another Nathanael. This man was also nice and genuine and kind. His friend Philip, whom Jesus had just invited as a disciple, found him, excited to persuade him to come and meet Him. 

Jesus saw Nathanael approaching and said, “An Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” Nathanael simply asked, “How do you know me?” 

He was blown away by Jesus' answer — “Before Philip called you, when you were under the fig tree, I saw you.” Jesus had not only perfectly described his character, but He had also known exactly where he was — when he was too far off to be seen. Nathanael instantly acknowledged Jesus as the Son of God. 

I am attracted to this story every time I read it. To be known and to be seen are basic human needs. Jesus answers them both. Of course, that can be the problem. Everyone has times of not wanting to be seen or known. And there is no place to hide from an omniscient God. It's sometimes more protective to decide He isn't there.  

Nathanael chose a different path. There is a last compelling scene that further explains him. After Jesus' resurrection, He is walking the beach along the Sea of Galilee, calling to His disciples who are out fishing and have caught nothing. If they will cast their net on the right-hand side — the side nearest Him — they will find fish. They do. 

Who is in the boat assisting them but Nathanael? He wasn't chosen — despite his good reputation  — to be among Jesus' inner circle of 12 back when invitations were being given. Obviously, he had remained friends with those who were, and had — in his genuine fashion, whenever he could and wherever he was needed — offered those immensely supportive words, “I'll help.”

Our Nathaniel was given the right name. He is not an attention seeker. He is a seeker after God. And he is a friendly soul who sincerely cares for others. He can lead — or he can give quiet support. He's a giant of a kid.