The moment I first met Pastor Freyer totally escapes me.   But fortunately, his continuing influence on me for over a decade has not. His presence in my life was at times formative, regenerative and always supportive.  

He had this tenacious constancy of intention, purpose and genuine love.  A chorus he proclaimed and I was blessed  to hear.  It was within that refrain that PF’s keen appreciation on how best  to conduct ourselves achieved a permanent resonance. It was his fervent desire that all of us address every matter of the moment in that very fashion.    

Though he has since passed, it seems as though he remains present in my life. Perhaps that was part of his true vocation and his divine talent.  That ability to become such an essential element in my life and many others. 

To be that guy you always seemed to know.  

To be that servant leader you trust, emulate and follow.   

To be that man of integrity and character you have always respected.  

To be that father that you will always love.  Because he will love you right back, no matter what. 

At some point during our wonderful  relationship, the appellation “Coach” was  conferred to PF.  He then bestowed that designation on me. An honor I did not understand, did not feel I deserved and tried  to dismiss. A title that has taken me quite a while to get used to.  

But under his ever loving guidance and patience, Coach taught me how to wear it.  In fact, Coach “coached me up” to embrace it.   

His  rugged looks aside, appearances were definitely deceiving when it came to Coach Freyer.  For he perfected operating in total stealth mode. Offering opportunity by conferring trust in talents he saw others. Things they had yet to even see or genuinely begin to fathom. 

Years ago, he simply asked me for my help.  To contribute to the motivational game sheets he distributed to the Highlander football players during their weekly team dinners.  

Thousands of words later, he told me he cannot wait to read my book. 

I wondered what he was  trying to tell me. As time passed, he told me that  he had to “begin to slow down a bit”. He then asked for my weekly contributions to also be shared via the spoken word as well. And just like that, I started filling in as a guest speaker.  

Those were some mighty big shoes to fill. But it became a life changing opportunity. And with his guidance, it went from abject terror to hand shaking, I cannot wait to do this, moments of truly unbridled joy.    

You see,  Coach always knew that was in me.  That I could do it. That I was meant to do it.  And by no means did his loving lesson begin and end there. It made me think that perhaps  I was cut from some of the same cloth as he.  That maybe with some honest intention, I too could see things in others that they hadn’t noticed, overlooked, dismissed or outright ignored.  

Probably why he called me “Coach” in the first place. 

So today, this remains a part of my current football vocation and standing.  But now, it has grown to become central to supporting those in search of their vocation, purpose, independence and a life well lived.  

He offered an opportunity by conferring trust in talents he saw in me. 

So now I get to do the same for others. 

Thanks Coach!