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There are some people you never forget. For me, one of them was my cousin Marty
When I was in junior high school, I used to go over to my cousin’s house often. I looked up to my cousin Marty, who was several years older than me. I loved my cousin. We would sit up in his room calling on his HAM radio anyone who would answer.
Breaker, Breaker goodbuddy … are you out there?
Unfortunately, I don’t think that all were good buddies.
As I entered high school, I saw Marty less and less. Marty was in some type of trouble and had been thrown from a moving vehicle out onto the highway. He suffered multiple injuries.
It should have been a wake-up call. Sadly, it wasn’t.
Years later, I ran into Marty just outside of the Port Authority bus terminal. He was frail, begging on the sidewalk. We spoke briefly. He asked me for a little money and then moved on. It broke my heart to see him that way.
The second time I ran into Marty was somewhere along Broadway, in the heart of New York’s Theater District. We were crossing an intersection from opposite directions when our eyes met.
For just a moment, we recognized each other. But this time, there were no words. Marty quickly turned away, as if ashamed.
That was the last time I ever saw him.
Later I learned that Marty repeatedly entered rehab, only to return to his addiction.
Marty’s addiction was visible.
Ours may not be.
Pride, fear, anger, unbelief, bitterness—we all have places where we try to live life apart from God. Like David, I’ve learned how easy it is to think I can handle life on my own… until I discover I can’t.
I often wonder what might have happened if Marty had finally surrendered his life completely to Christ.
Only God knows.
But one thing I do know is this:
God is still in the business of picking people up.
He picked up David.
He picked me up.
And He never stopped reaching out to either of us.
And He longs to lift up all who humble themselves before Him.
Sometimes the people who need to be picked up the most are the ones who find it hardest to reach out.
I wish Marty had known that.
If this story resonated with you, I invite you to listen to the song it inspired.
Story by Bill Hutzel, Copyright 2026
🎵 Pick Me Up
Written by Bill Hutzel & John D’Elia