Ya know, sometimes when you don’t want to think about something or you don’t want your world to change, you avoid it. I think that is what happened to me concerning my very good friend, Rod Ochs.
Ever since I had heard Rod had passed, I just could not bring myself to accept it. He was just too much a part of my world. Even though we had drifted apart the last few years, I always knew he was there. Kind of like an old dependable and very precious treasure that is not taken out much; but when it is, you knew it would be there and you could depend on it. Rod was always there for me. Even at the times I didn’t really want him there. I now realize after much reflection that he was much like a loving father that I never had. Rod was always Rod. I have never met anyone even remotely like him.
Rod was a big presence in a room. He always expressed a confidence that was secure and solid. He was a very smart man with deep knowledge in a kaleidoscope of subjects. He could be loud and then a minute later have tears in his eyes over something he just heard or relayed to those listening. He could yell and love at the same time which took a long time to get used to for me. He seemed able to talk to anyone from a complete stranger to close friends and all those he spoke with, if they were listening, somehow walked away better. He could be rough, sharp, and hard yet he could be the most gentle man you have ever met. He was able to calculate and set large satellite dishes on high buildings then come visit us and take our very young daughter to the mall for several hours to buy a set of shoes. From my understanding, she tried on and tested every shoe for the proper sound when you tapped the heels on the floor. I do not know how he did it, but he was a saint concerning the whole adventure and my daughter enjoyed the trip thoroughly. He also took both my daughter and son to see the Blue Angels and to see a few WW2 aircraft. He loved our children and I believe they loved him too. To them he was ‘Uncle Rod’.
Rod loved dogs and I never knew a time that he did not have, at least, one around. He lived with us for a while at one point, and my family and I got to know Rod and his dogs – Rouddy, Matt, Scooter, and Peaches pretty well. We also had a dog, Pumba, so imagine five dogs under the same roof. Oh yea…and one cat, Friday. I do know that his favorite dog was Rouddy. Rouddy was as unique as Rod and I am sure they are running around in Heaven right now with about a gazillion other dogs. By the way Rouddy hated vacuum cleaners. If you even pretended to have a vacuum cleaner he would try and destroy it. I pretended a lot.
Rod had a lot of wisdom and shared some of it with me many times. He would never make it easy on you when you asked a question. He usually asked you what you thought and/or knew and then responded around your answer. He was usually very kind and always generous. Rod loved Jesus Christ with all his heart and had a great deal of biblical and historical knowledge. He loved his country and was grieved about how things are turning out over the last couple of decades. I could say so much more about my friend, but I will finish with this thought.
I will greatly miss my good friend and dear brother, Rod Ochs. He was many things, but most of all, he was always genuine. I know what he would want most is for all his friends and family to find and accept Jesus Christ, then succeed beyond all expectations in following Christ, and sharing our Lord and Savior with others.
Goodbye Rod until we meet again where no shadows fall – Duke.