Overseas, my buddies and I frequented a bar that was a good distance off post. Before that, we'd all hit one of the bars that was close to post, usually packed with service members. This is the story of how someone led us to Jesus, and that bar.

When I was in service, I typically hung out regularly with only about 3 or 4 guys. Anyone who wanted to hang out with us was welcome of course, but I had that small core group of friends. We knew nearly everyone and hung out, but we usually just partied with the locals when we went out.

My buddies and I are hanging out in one of the rooms, playing video games, drinking beer, and passing the time before we went out, when we get a knock on the door. One of the privates in the platoon excited to tell us something grand, "Dude! I met Jesus last night!"

"The fuck you just say?"

"I fucking met Jesus last night! For real!"

"Whatever the fuck you're smoking, you should be passing that shit around."

There was mockery and laughter of course. But he's swearing on the bible, his mother's grave, and every other sacred person or relic he can think of that he actually met Jesus. And not just met him in in a church or on the street somewhere. Nope, Jesus was seated at a corner of a bar they had stumbled into. He was getting agitated that nobody he told this story to would believe him.

There was some disbelief here, fellas. Now, he stayed adamant that he'd met Jesus and we'd stayed adamant that he might have had alcohol poisoning. He kept insisting that we go to the bar with him and see for ourselves. We agreed, if for nothing else than to help debunk this tale. If this kept up, the poor private would be forever known as the one who met Jesus.

We did the warm-ups in the barracks with our favorite drinks, then headed to the bar. If I'm recalling correctly, it was a 30 to 45 minute walk to this bar passing through parts of town that we'd never actually ventured into. Not bad parts of town, there were just bars right off post. We were in a fairly small town, so when we did want other entertainment, we'd drive to another post with more amenities. But we'd gotten enough drinks in our system that we were in a fine mood.

I just told you of the ridicule that this man might suffer for his story, but I'm gonna tell you, we opened the door to that place, and right there at the corner seat sat Jesus, just as the private said. We were floored. Tall and skinny with long hair. He was even wearing some kind of hippie clothing that looked like burlap. His facial features were a near identical match to the man on every crucifix I'd ever seen. It was eerie.

We went over there and introduced ourselves to Jesus. He told us his name, but I'll be damned if I can remember it. This turned out to be our favorite watering hole, and when he was there, we just called him Jesus.

Jesus knew all the ladies, though. He would nearly always have a table of women around him and he gave me favorable introductions on many occasions. Jesus knew how to hook a man up.

Edit: I just remembered Jesus's real name and one of the main reasons the drunken private swore he'd met Jesus. His name was Jose. Which would have made the story funnier if I had remembered the pertinent details. Getting old sucks.