I met a remarkable young

man this week in a little town outside Pittsburgh called

Ambridge. The young man, whose name is Ian Rawn, has a

warm handshake, an engaging smile, and a wonderful sense

of humor. He is 17 years old, has an older sister who is

25 (studying this year in Italy) and a younger brother at

home who is about 14.

His father, Jeff, who left

a successful business in Arkansas, moved his family to

Pennsylvania three years ago, recently graduated from

Trinity Episcopal School for Ministry in Ambridge, and

will be ordained as a deacon in the Episcopal Church on

Saturday.

Ian and his family are

eagerly anticipating the impressive service in downtown

Pittsburgh. In December, Ian's father will be ordained to

the priesthood. His mother, Cindy, is a lovely woman, a

gracious host, and a wonderful gardener. Oh, she can flat

cook, too!

In Ian's room, the thing

that catches your attention is the huge poster picturing

Ian holding the Olympic Torch high over his head just

prior to the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. Ian carried

the torch as one of the many runners who brought the

torch from Greece, across America, and on to Atlanta.

Ian's community honored the young man as a "local

hero," thereby giving his the honor of carrying the

torch. His face beams with pride when he tells you the

story of the torch.

Also found throughout Ian's

bedroom are the typical signs and symbols of teen

manhood. A team baseball picture here, a bowling trophy

there, a baseball trophy over there ... it's the kind of

room you would expect to find in a typical 17-year-old's

domicile. He is understandably proud of his many

accomplishments.

Like many boys his age, Ian

has a summer job, serving as a "bag boy" as a

local supermarket. I was a bag boy during college days,

so Ian and I discussed the proper and improper ways to

bag groceries, the pleasant surprise of getting a few

bucks in tips, and the ordeal of having to deal with

shoppers who are rude and abrupt.

Ian enjoys music and, last

Tuesday evening, attended a Michael Card concert and

brought home an autograph from the popular Christian

singer. Ian would like to be part of a church music group

sometime soon and even has visions of leading a music

group someday. As for me, I wanted to be a rock star.

But, an inability to either sing or play guitar hampered

that goal. Perhaps Ian will do better than I.

Ian is a faithful member of

the youth group at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church just a

few miles down the road in a neighboring town. His dad is

a staff member at the church, but Ian has always enjoyed

church and it really wouldn't matter to him if his dad

was on staff or not. Ian just loves the Lord and enjoys

being with other people who do.

Last Tuesday evening, I

received some news from home that caused me some deep

concern. Ian saw the pain on my face and read the

somberness in my eyes. The young man didn't know what to

say to this older, gray-headed priest, but I will always

remember his coming over quietly and laying his hand on

my shoulder, in a demonstration of compassion and

support.

You would think that

everyone would fall in love with such a wonderful young

man, and most do. But, sadly, young men like Ian are

targets for the predators that prowl among us, looking

for decent and gentle people to bully and torment. Cindy

will not allow Ian to go by himself to the local school

to shoot hoops in the afternoon anymore. The young thugs

who have invaded the neighborhood have made Ian the

object of their brutal natures.

In fact, the Rawns are

moving soon and hope to relocate closer to St. Stephen's

Church. They own a beautiful home, but, for Ian the

neighborhood is too often unsafe these days. The next

town down the road will provide a better environment and

greater opportunities for Ian. Although home-schooled

this past year, he is looking forward to enrolling in the

public high school in his new town.

Ian is mentally retarded.

But neither he nor his family have allowed that situation

to hamper his enthusiasm, diminish his dreams, or curtail

his goals. As he shared his thoughts and dreams recently,

I had no doubt that the future would be good to this

likable youth. The other night, his mom thanked me for

spending about an hour just talking with him.

She needn't have done that,

for the honor and pleasure were all mine. Ian Rawn is a

great conversationalist and an all-round great kid.

Besides, he's the only person I ever met who actually

carried the torch for the 1996 Olympic Games.

[Father

David Epps is rector of Christ the King Church in the

south metro Atlanta area. He may be contacted online at [email protected] or visit the

website at www.ChristTheKingCEC.com .]