Chapter 1: Beginnings
By Richard Mabey Jr.

I deeply believe that each and every one of us is called by God to serve others, in some way, in some capacity. To bring comfort, help and kindness to other people’s lives. God’s loving call to soul, reaches far beyond heart and mind. And often, what seems to be a total failure in one’s life, really and truly is a precious gift from God.

I’ll be 73 years old in September. I am in the biggest fight of my life. I am working hard to live through this horrible and horrendous heart disease that they call Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy, commonly known as HCM. It is no picnic. In the time I have left upon this earth, I want to share this story of my own coming of age. Of my own struggle to find my life’s purpose, my life’s ministry, of how I put heart and mind to work to serve God, to uplift other people. I dedicate this true-life story to the young people out there, coming of age, in their late teens and early twenties, struggling to find purpose and a means to make a living in this tough world.

This story is 90% true. I say 90% true because, for legal reasons, I have changed the names of towns, streets and the people’s last names. The last thing I want to happen to me, is to get sued. I write this story, my cherished memories of coming of age, with all the love and kindness that I can muster in my heart.

In September of 1976, I graduated from the first class of Sherman College of Chiropractic, located in Spartanburg, South Carolina. I then returned home, to the old Mabey Homestead in Lincoln Park. I immediately got a job in a little deli on Lincoln Park’s Main Street, that was located between Steve’s Barber Shop and Moe’s Sweet Shop. I simultaneously studied and studied and studied for my chiropractic
state board examinations.

In June of 1977, I passed the West Virginia Board of Chiropractic Examiners exam. I was now a licensed chiropractor. I had saved my money, from working full time at the deli, which was just a little shy of a thousand dollars. I had a black, 1966 Ford Galaxie 500, a blue suit, and a little collection of comic books from my youth, and a copy of Thomas Wolfe’s novel, “Look Homeward, Angel.” It was all the
possessions I had to my name.

In early July of 1977, I hugged my dear Mom farewell, shook my Dad’s hand, and hugged my sister Patti.

Then I got behind the steering wheel of my old faithful Ford Galaxie, with all my earthly possessions in the back seat, and drove up Mabey Lane and then onto Route 202, with the old Mabey Homestead in my rear view mirror. I was off to West Virginia to seek my way in life.
I was a most idealistic young man, sincere and earnest. I was a painfully shy young man. But I was determined to make something of myself. The eastern panhandle of West Virginia called me, lured me, beckoned unto me to find a home in the valleys, along the streams, and dirt roads of a bygone era, hidden by the mountains of dear old West Virginia. In the little town of Squirrel Valley, a little store front had a
sign taped to the big front window. It simply read “For Rent.” A telephone number was hand written on the sign. I called the number from a pay phone, just down the block.

The events that would unfold in the next year or so, would go beyond my wildest imagination. I was to work hard, to put my nose to the grind store, only to lose everything through a serious illness. I was on the road to become a man. I was to find love and lose in love. I was to cry, to laugh, and to find the joy and splendor of being a young man, coming of age.

This story is truly dedicated to the young people out there, who are struggling to find their own way. Not the path that parents, relatives and friends have deemed to be the way. But for all the young people to find their true purpose in life. To find a way to financially survive in these changing times. To find God’s loving call to soul. If I touch the heart and life of even just one young person, with this story, then I have
done something worthwhile in the time that I have left upon this physical world.

Chapter Two will come next month. In the mean time, please remember this. God loves you more than you will ever know. You have been put upon this earth for a reason, for a purpose, to provide your own mission in life. As Sir Rod Stewart sang to us, all those years ago, “give it all you got. No holding back!”

Truly, God loves you more than you will ever know.

Richard Mabey Jr. is a freelance writer. He has recently had two books published. He currently hosts a YouTube Channel entitled, “Richard Mabey Presents.” Richard may be contacted at richardmabeyjr@gmail.com.