Robert Bare had been a policeman for 23 years, his view of the world in stark black and white. After retiring from policing, he was for a time a university professor, an international business consultant, a city manager, and a tribal administrator for a Native American nation. In each of these positions, he had tremendous influence over others’ lives. Bare knew this, but in 2009 another dimension to his influence unfolded before his eyes.
In 2008, he received a phone call from a friend he’d served on the police force with in the 60s.
“We were talking, and he just stopped all of a sudden and he goes, ‘Robert, I have to ask you a question.’ He goes, ‘I’d like to know if you’re right with the Lord.’ And I said, ‘Why are you asking me that?’” His friend said he just felt compelled to ask, and Bare replied, “I think so,” and they didn’t talk about it further….