Christian Living

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Missed Opportunity
© 2011

by

Stephen A. Peterson


Private First Class Jeremy Crider was held over in New York City’s Kennedy’s International Airport during one of the worst snow storms to ever hit the area. With help from the archives, Private Crider was given a hotel room and reduced rates for his meals. After settling into his room, he decided to walk around the spacious hotel and maybe buy a few things to show family and friends that he had been in the “Big Apple”.

Before he left home for Army Basic Training, Private Crider had been instructed to be aware of his surroundings whenever he visited large metropolitan areas. Although Private Crider had received a great deal of education and training with regards to communicable diseases, he was terrified of HIV. As he was about to purchase a package of postcards, he overhead a man tell a woman he was HIV positive. Moments later when the man tried to thank Private Crider for his military service, he cringed and turned away. Once he paid the cashier, he attempted to get out of the shop. He was only two or three steps outside of the shop when his love for God became so great that he recognized that his behavior was not of God. He felt an impulse to go back into the shop to find the man and embrace him. But when he looked back, ready to befriend the HIV man, he was gone. For the rest of his life, Private Crider believed the man in the hotel shop was Christ he had rejected on the cold winter day.

Jeremy Crider went on to have a long and, what many reported, a prosperous military career of more than 30 years. From the time of his visitation, he dedicated himself to helping those afflicted with an illness in body or in spirit wherever he was stationed. His actions influenced men and women in more than 30 nations.

Jeremy Crider’s prayer and motto became: “How may I help you this day, this moment, Lord?” Should this be your prayer? A prayer of service to God and love of humanity.

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