October 09 '04 |
|
Volume 436 |
Twenty Years
Hesses Appreciated
The
fleeting aspect of time is more recognizable to the elderly than to the very
young. And, its more apparent to those of us over fifty than to those
whove not reached thirty. I can mark most of my more than sixty years
by decades. Of course, my six decades are not even a grain of sand in the
hourglass of eternity, but at least Ive lived long enough to see the
relative brevity of a time span of twenty years, a span our forbears called
"a score," and were it not for school children studying Lincolns Gettysburg
Address, the usage of "score" might be forgotten.
Barbara and I were in Vicksburg, MS, this past Sunday, to attend a celebration
by the membership of First Baptist Church marking the twentieth service
anniversary of Jim and Sheila Hess. Sheila is the church organist, and Jim
serves as Minister of Music and Minister of Senior Adults. A couple of weeks
earlier, we received an invitation from FBC, Vicksburg in which we were invited
to attend one or all of the three events planned to honor Jim and Sheila,
recognition during the morning worship service, luncheon provided by the
Adult Choir, and a reception following the evening worship.
Prior to moving to Vicksburg, Jim and Sheila spent six years with the saints
at FBC, Pontotoc and were greatly appreciated for their efforts in building
a music program that continues to bear fruit in the lives of those of us
benefiting from their leadership. In arranging our schedules to travel to
Vicksburg, Barbara and I considered there might be other church members who
would also like to make the trip with us. Several individuals came to mind,
but none seemed more suitable than Ellouise Dallas, who, like Barbara and
me, has maintained a friendship with Jim and Sheila in spite of the distance
separating Pontotoc and Vicksburg.
In order to attend the 10:50 a.m. service we planned to leave Pontotoc before
seven oclock. Sadly, Ellouise, plagued with back pain, was compelled
at the last minute to cancel her plans to ride with us.
"Be sure and tell them, I really wanted to come," she stated, sorrowfully.
"But, I have the hardest time in the early morning, getting though the pain."
Ellouise will have been treated by a physician by the time this issue of
RRN is in readers hands and hopefully is now improved.
My alarm was set for five oclock Sunday morning, but being unable to
dose off after awaking around four, I disabled the alarm at four-thirty and
lay in bed a few more minutes before getting up to shower.
I remember sitting on the side of the bed, putting on my shoes, shortly after
five oclock and thinking, "Jim Hess is not worth this."
Actually, it was my stiff and sore muscles that suggested Jims
unworthiness, for mentally I knew that I would go to whatever lengths necessary
to join those prepared to congratulate his and Sheilas twenty years
of service at FBC, Vicksburg. All the hedges and shrubs that border the front
and sides of our home in Dogwood Circle bore testament to my Saturday labors,
as we backed out of our drive shortly before seven oclock, while I
considered the lack of wisdom in working so hard the day before a long trip.
With respect to traffic, our drive to Vicksburg was an enjoyable one. We
didnt meet a single vehicle from Pontotoc to Bruce (more than thirty
miles), and there was almost no traffic on the Interstate until we arrived
in Jackson, MS. Hawk watching was fruitless, for we didnt see any hawks
on our way to Vicksburg, though dead deer were plentiful (five). But, the
weather was perfect warm and dry ideal for early October.
We arrived at the church almost twenty minutes early, but that gave us plenty
of time to find the restrooms before entering the sanctuary. A couple of
ushers jumped from their seats in the foyer to greet us and handed us a worship
guide. Once inside the sanctuary, we found a seat in the middle section
approximately a dozen rows from the front. Sheila practiced the organ music
for the morning service, as other church members greeted us and graciously
welcomed us when they learned we were friends of the Hesses and were from
Pontotoc.
None proved more conversational than the churchs new pastor, Dr. Matt
Buckles. Not only was he interested in who we were and where we lived, he
asked about our work.
"What line of work are you in?" he directed toward me.
I was ill prepared to answer his simple question, because I dont have
a simple answer.
"Thats hard to explain," I began. "I work for SUPERVALU, out of Indianola,
but I work with retailers
technology
you know registers, computers
and credit cards."
It was a poor explanation, but Ive learned a simple answer such as,
"Im with a wholesale grocer," leaves folks the impression I sell groceries
or that I work in a warehouse, or else they really have no clue as to what
I really do. If I tell folks all the technical aspects of my work, many find
it a bit overwhelming or "information overload," and do not grasp the
fundamentals. Maybe, I should just say that Im a Retail Technology
Specialist for SUPERVALU and leave them wondering what that is.
"SUPERVALU put bread on my table for several years," Bro. Matt responded.
"My father-in-law owned a store in Bude, MS, before selling it a few years
ago to his store manager."
He went on to explain his father-in-law was a Mr. Dillon whose business partner
was a Mr. Smith. I remember meeting his father-in-law when the business was
named D & S Super Valu.
Someone interrupted the pastor, and I sat down beside Barbara who had been
reading the worship guide while I was talking to Bro. Matt. She had found
the portion of the guide for the evening service and pointed to a couple
of names we recognized. Gordon Sansing was scheduled to preach Sunday Night
and Lee Gordon was to sing a solo. We were tempted to stay for the evening
service, but decided not to push our physical endurance with what would have
been an almost four-hour drive putting us back in Pontotoc around midnight.
Minutes later the rest of the Hess family arrived. Dawn Hess was the typical
proud aunt, holding Mary Addison, the four-month-old daughter of Courtney
and Alan Loving. Courtney teaches 4th grade, and Alan is Minister
of Youth (Jr. High) at FBC, Jackson. The lovely Mary Addison, after being
adored by numerous individuals, was taken to the church nursery prior to
the worship service. Alan, Courtney, and Dawn sat beside Barbara and me.
The pastor welcomed all guests to the morning service, recognizing as special
guests, those in town for a Class Reunion, and he recognized the rest of
Jims family, the Lovings of Jackson, and finally the Carters.
We appreciated the recognition, but we were there to recognize a significant
milestone in the life of our special friends, Jim and Sheila. Moments later
a representative of the Senior Adults and the president of the Adult Choir
stepped to the pulpit to recognize Jim and Sheila on the occasion of the
Twentieth Anniversary of their ministry at FBC, Vicksburg. After comments
appropriate for the occasion, Jim and Sheila were informed that the Senior
Adults and the Adult Choir had raised a love gift of eight thousand dollars
and had decided it be used as an all expense paid trip for Jim and Sheila
to travel with the Senior Adults to Hawaii at the end of December.
Knowing how much Jim Hess enjoys fishing and knowing how much his friends
enjoy fishing with him, I could not help thinking, "For eight grand, they
could have bought a really nice fishing boat."
Still, even for me, a trip to Hawaii would be hard to turn down, and it would
be harder still to live with my wife, who would remind me every time I went
fishing that she missed the opportunity to see Hawaii, because I wanted a
fishing boat. Maybe, those who chose the trip for Jim and Sheila did the
right thing.
Barbara and I had the opportunity to congratulate Jim and Sheila, immediately
following the church service, and, with a host of others, we made our way
to the luncheon in the Family Life Center. We were told to choose the beverage
of our choice and find a seat at any table, where our meal would be brought
to us.
The tables were decorated for fall, each with a centerpiece of mums. The
mums had a ribbon stripped with a musical theme tastefully mingled with the
blooms, and staked into the plants were caricatures of Jim directing and
Sheila playing the organ. It was worthy of a picture, but our camera was
in the car.
We had just been served and were about to begin eating when a couple in our
age group asked if we were the Carters from Pontotoc.
"Im Jeanell Hill. Im Lee Gordons sister, and this is my
husband, Tom," the wife stated.
We had met before, but I was glad to be reminded of their names, since names
have developed the annoying and sometimes embarrassing habit of dropping
out of my memory. Soon, Jim, Sheila, Dawn, Courtney, Alan, and Mary Addison
joined us. Jeanell told us Lee Gordon, went hunting with his bow and arrow
on "the home place" close to Meridian and killed two deer, a buck and a doe,
during the weekend. She also shared that she and Tom and two more couples
had recently returned from a twenty-one day tour of Europe, fulfilling
Toms lifelong dream.
After the luncheon, Jim and Sheila invited us to their home. Barbara and
I stayed until three oclock before beginning the drive back to Pontotoc.
Barbara napped a time or two along the way, and I almost pulled over to let
Barbara drive, but realizing we were within thirty minutes of a fuel stop,
I elected to keep driving.
With Baptist churches growing, with some changing worship formats, and with
ministers moving about, its rare to hear of a minister staying the
course at any given church for twenty years. But, its also refreshing
to know that some folks have the grit as well as the grace to endure when
trials come, and trials really do come to those seeking to minister to others.
Jim and Sheila Hess are such ministers, and I wont be surprised if
Im invited to their twenty-fifth or maybe even a thirtieth anniversary
honoring them at FBC, Vicksburg.
Sunshine Girls
Merilese And Katherine
I imagine folks who have grandsons consider them special. I know from personal
experience that granddaughters are special. And, like many other grandparents,
I love seeing the grandchildren arrive, and I love watching the taillights
fade as they are leaving. My two youngest granddaughters are Merilese and
Katherine. They will turn seven and four, respectively, before too long.
They are at the age where life is filled with wonder. This year, Merilese
began First Grade, so her age of wonder will soon be gone, while
Katherines is about to peak. Their young minds are still inquisitive;
they embrace learning as fun, and they dont have a care in the world.
Well, at least they dont until they dont get something they want,
but theyll grow out of that. Collectively speaking, they are as happy
as a dead pig in the sunshine and may rightly be considered as Sunshine Girls.
A couple of Saturdays ago, Katherine walked out to where I was cutting
grass in the circle and asked if she could ride with me. Two years ago, she
didnt want near a riding lawnmower the noise scared her
but there she was ready to climb alongside her Daa. Though Merilese could
always find enough room on the seat to sit between my legs, Katherine could
not and wanted to sit on my left thigh where she could hang on to me with
a one-armed hug. After about fifteen minutes of riding, she was almost asleep,
so I asked her if she wanted me to stop and let her get down. She didnt,
but on the next lap, Barbara came out and asked if she was ready to get off
and Katherine took the offer.
An hour later, I was blowing the grass off the mower deck, before washing
off the dirt. Merilese and Katherine were playing nearby, when Katherine
came over.
"I smell just like you Daa," she proudly claimed.
Thinking she might become a gardener one day, or at least a woman who actually
likes to mow, I quizzed, "You do?"
I imagined her response would somehow relate to
the bittersweet smell of a freshly mown hayfield, maybe the pungent aroma
of wild onions, or even the earthy scent of dust particles that lodge in
ones nose, and perhaps one of those smells is what she had in mind when she
responded, "Yeah, I stink."
When youre at a certain age, work is fun, at least until the fun wears
off. Last Saturday, the "grands" were back early. I was trimming shrubs in
the front flowerbed beside the chimney.
"Can we help, Daa? Daa can we help?" they chorused.
"Sure, you can," I replied, making no effort to correct their grammar. "But,
let me find you some gloves."
I found the mauve and white garden gloves that Barbara had hardly soiled
the one time she used them and gave them to Katherine. Merilese put on my
other pair of leather gloves, and the sunshine girls followed me to the
flowerbed. I began to toss debris onto and near a small hedge beside the
walk and asked them to toss the trimmings into the lawn cart.
"This is stuck, Daa," Katherine complained, as she attempted to pick up hedge
and all.
I explained that the hedge was not part of the trimmings and told them I
had some more near the chimney that Id let them pickup. We repositioned
the lawn cart, and they busied themselves with the cleanup task. Barbara
and Rayanne came outside to check on us and made a couple of pictures of
the sunshine girls at work with Daa. However, the fun was soon over, and
after we carted the second load to curbside they were off to explore other
worlds before their age of wonder is no more.
Bodock Beau
Things People Do
Among other traits, people can be pompous, immature, and proud. Heres
what I mean.
Poor John Kerry. . .
He throws away someone else's medals.
He drives someone else's SUV.
He marries someone else's wife.
And he inherits someone else's money.
I think we should all vote for him to go be president of someone else's country.
Shared by Bob Jackson
Men Will Be Boys
When one of his players was thrown out at home, the high school baseball
coach from Davidson County, N.C. went ballistic. He charged the ump,
screaming and protesting the call until he was tossed from the game.
Following the rulebook, the ump ordered the coach to "go where I can't see
you."
That's when the coach jumped onto home plate, saying, "guess I'll just stand
right here, because you haven't seen anything that happened here all night."
Submitted by Gordon Sansing
The Nursing Home
President George W. Bush decides its time to do some public relations
at the local DC nursing home.
The President begins his "tour" down the main hallway and passes by a little
old man who doesnt seem to notice him.
President Bush backtracks to the resident and asks, "Do you know who I am?"
The little old man looks up from his walker and says, "No, but if you go
to the front desk, they will tell you your name."
Contributed by Kim Goslin
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