An empty drawer

Early Japanese Cars

71-78 Mazda RX3
Preamble: Thanks for all the nice comments on my dad.  He was well liked, and an humble man. I just received an e-mail from Rita out in Tennessee saying how much she enjoyed reading about dad. I love it. God is Good!
 
For today, space:
Do you have the luxury of an empty drawer in your home? When we moved out of this house into a motor home many years ago there were NO empty drawers. We had no idea we would be gone 20+ years.

Right now the closets are only half full! and I can count at least 10 empty drawers.  Try to imagine that if you can!  LOL 

I would venture to say if we live here at least a year every drawer will have something in them. Some will be full. We humans are like that. Many of us have storage places outside our home that takes care of the overflow.

I heard a statement Sunday I won’t soon forget. “We are born, we Live, we die and then someone will go thru our stuff!” My sweet sister Shirl was obsessed with that idea of “Why do I have all this ‘sh-t’, I don’t want anyone going thru my stuff. I am going to get rid of it.”  Like 99% of us humans she knew she could do that tomorrow, but time ran out.

Living in a motor home sorta limits the accumulation. Most RV’ers have loaded their RVs to the point it is a rule: When something new comes in, something else must go out. LOL

Me and you, had just better prepare for it, most likely someone will go thru our ‘STUFF’.

Shirl did have  notes attached to some things. Her pictures, which were many, had notes attached. These can be shredded, everyone interested has copies.

What will remove us from this earth may be silently working to that end now, so if you need to destroy or sell something, just do it.  LOL

Nite  Shipslog
PS: Did I read that sign right?
In an office:
AFTER TEA BREAK, STAFF SHOULD EMPTY THE TEAPOT AND STAND UPSIDE DOWN ON THE DRAINING BOARD.

#9 My dad, B.F. Darnell, Ordained Minister.

 Many years he had a weekly radio program,  He would NEVER ask for money, it was against his principles.

       Mom and Dad

Now ending this series of entries…

Retirement, you must be ready for retirement. Have something to occupy yourself. My daddy did not. His church was his life. He was in demand for speaking engagements. He delighted in those services, but once he was home, Monday morning there was no church building to ‘check out.’ To make sure it was cleaned and thermostats checked. No sick members to visit, no special services to plan, etc. He was not prepared for ‘retirement’.  He finally settled in, but it was tough.

Picture from Belmont History. Dad and Brother Floyd Summey (SS superintendent)  advertising the pony and bicycle to be given away.

My dad had a heart attack at 69. His nurse in Charlotte was a former member of a mountain church I once pastored. She broke a rule or two and told Dick (my BIL) to contact me, “Bro. Darnell doesn’t have long to live. Contact Jack and tell him if he wants to see his father alive he needs to get here quick.”

Dick contacted the Red Cross and they were able to get me on a plane from GITMO.  Due to weather, I was a day late. His funeral was at the South Gastonia Church that he had organized. A large church, it was packed, several present and former state officials were there. I was reminded of a request my dad had made of Governor Cherry, a friend from Shelby, NC. Dad had asked to come to Raleigh and sit in the state ‘electric chair’ and be hooked up as if he was to be electrocuted, just to see how it felt.’ The Governor obliged.

 Studios of WABZ Albemarle, NC Dad, mom and the choir.

I disappointed my dad when I resigned the New Hope Church and left the ministry. It was awhile but he let me know he understood.

Dad was original, he actually asked the undertaker to let him lay in a casket. He then rented the casket for a Sunday morning service. His Sermon, “THE funeral you will attend.” He had the casket up front with flowers. Everyone in the church lined up to view the deceased. Daddy had placed a mirror in the casket.  Some laughed some cried, but it made an impact.  That was my DADDY!  He was, B.F, Darnell, or his take was: Benjamin Franklin Thomas Jefferson Roosevelt Darnell.

Nite Shipslog

PS: He actually introduced me until my teens as:
This is my son ‘Jacktum meyanktum, Hick stank stanktum, bowlegged, knock kneed, pigeon-toed jacktum.’  Believe it or not I got a kick out of it. And many people tried to remember it. Finally Cousin Jimmy Herron got it right. To this day that is what he calls me.
------------------------------ ------------------------------

#8 Continuing,THE MAN in my Life

Early Japanese Cars

 1969 Subaru Van

Dad, next to last:
My dad loved Sunday School. I think he loved kids because his childhood had been tough. His promotion of Sunday School knew no bounds. I remember (before it was considered pollution), he had a pilot take him up in a small plane and then threw thousands of circulars out inviting everyone, especially kids to church.

He gave away prizes to kids for attending. He gave away ‘ducks, chickens, candy, rabbits and on other occasions a pony, then a car. The VW Beetle was the only foreign car we southerners knew, but he found an English Ford, and gave it away at a drawing for attending Sunday School.

I remember once he rented a Wrecker and a wrecked car. He had banners made saying something like, “God can get you out of any wreck or ditch you find yourself in.” They drove it around all day in our town.

Daddy took some friendly kidding (and some not so friendly) at his ideas. When our church was running about 120 in SS Dad had a special day and gave away the pony. 850+ people attended, blocking traffic in our small community. Later I remember hearing a minister ask Dad, “Hey BF, how many of those 850 continued?” Daddy put on a sullen, sad face, “Our average only went up about 75 in attendance,” then he smiled and asked, “By the way, how is your church doing?”

I never heard my parents ‘talk bad about anyone in our church.’ But I remember one talk I heard (eavesdropping)  between daddy and a young evangelist during a revival. Over coffee that evening, “Son, if that is the only type of sermons you have, I will pay you the week’s salary, but I will finish this revival. We had some new people here tonight and all you did was take shots at how they dressed and the make-up the ladies were wearing. We will never see those folks again, and I won’t blame them. These people are mill workers. They work hard, they do not deserve to be beat over the head, this is a REVIVAL, a time for encouragement. Some of those people went on to the 3^rd shift and are working as we sit here. Think about it and let me know in the morning.”

What I overheard I did not know until much later the good advice my dad gave that young preacher.

My Dad, considered his members, his family and part of the Family of God.

Yes, he was the best man I ever knew, and I miss him and his wisdom.
Nite Shipslog

PS:  

Did I read that sign right? 

Notice in a farmer's field:
THE FARMER ALLOWS WALKERS TO CROSS THE FIELD FOR FREE, BUT THE BULL CHARGES.

 Sherry and I  actually read one like this in Vermont while hiking the AT.
------------------------------ ------------------------------ --------------------