Precious Memories/Fun Story

4/8/2019

The further I delve into my mind to formulate the writings here, the more lengthy stories become. It isn’t my intention to just write out long, boring paragraphs of remembrances. Rather, to relate something that is either amusing, poignant, or note worthy (worth something to somebody.) I learned many years ago that telling jokes was not my forte, neither was the biting, snarly kind of “Don Rickles” ribbing. In fact, if what I tell or write isn’t funny in itself, I probably cannot dress it up as humor. So, hopefully, I don’t embarrass myself by trying. That being said….

Neither shall I attempt poignancy. If it is poignant (touching, moving, sad or heart-rending) I just don’t want to foul it up! And, if it is either funny or poignant it will, hopefully, be note-worthy (the kind of story the details of which you want to remember to relate.) ( Aw, this seems like I’m re-introducing myself, sorry.)

When and if a certain young man in the DFW area might happen to read this story, I hope he chuckles and thinks, “How did that old man remember this?” 

He was about 13, tall, skinny and very smart. His family (military dad) had just moved to the San Antonio area and they had begun to attend our church. His father was a good golfer and invited another man and myself to play with he and his 13 year old son. When we walked out of the clubhouse to the first tee, his dad insisted he put on sun screen. He reluctantly did as soon as he had taken his warmup swings. He then took his turn at teeing off. It is always a bit unnerving to tee off, not only in front of guys like your father, your pastor, and arguably the best 60year old golfer in our region and a not so small gallery of golfers waiting on us. But, how the young teenager handled this is classic!

The club house was about 75 feet away from and in back of the #1 Teebox. The building was about 40 feet wide. The 13 year old teed his ball, approached his stance, and with one more practice swing (his hands slick from the sunscreen), slung his driver clear over the top of the clubhouse on to the front lawn of the golf course! I don’t know how to describe the look on his face, or his father’s, but the laughter from the rest of us, including the crowd gathered to tee off soon, was uproarious. (I laughed out loud just thinking about it as I wrote it.)

He said, “sorry,” ran around the clubhouse to see if he had killed anyone, came back with his club, took his turn and played rather well, even with such an inglorious beginning. Always wondered about his and his Dad’s conversation on the way home.

This morning, the SIMH was “Love, Oh Love, Oh Careless Love”—written by Bessie Smith, sung by Hank Williams, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan, and many others. It’s a great blues song which tells the story of the feelings of many who remember lost loves. 

Got the news last night of another Texas friend who has passed away. She was a beautiful lady well up in years before she came to the Lord for salvation. She laughingly told me once that driving around the country with her husband in a motor home would scare anyone into the need for being saved. (In other words, “scare the hell out of ya!”) So sorry for the loss of her companionship, but glad to know she’s out of pain and at peace.

We visited some friends yesterday in Birmingham and attended the bible class held in their home. It’s very hard to get caught up with old friends in just a few minutes before and after bible class, but the teacher was excellent, the lesson powerful, and the time spent was precious. These folks were the hosts of the very first bible class we attended in January, 1974. That was in Anniston, AL. About a year later, we moved the class to Birmingham where he and I had gone to work and the class has been continuous ever since. Many other classes have been spawned from that group, many bible teachers/preachers have come from it and the Lord has blessed many people with His salvation who in one way or another heard the Word of truth from others connected to this class. An amazing tapestry of lives and locations!

Thanks for reading, the Elder