RRN Online Volume 267

August 04 ‘01

Volume 267

They Came 4th Annual RRN Celebration

They came from near and afar. They Not Just By Twos came afoot and by automobile. They came using walkers and wheelchairs. Those who came ranged in age from six weeks to almost ninety years young. Some arrived alone, while some came in pairs or larger groups. Whole families were present, but they were the exceptions to the norm.

They were a varied bunch. Educationally speaking, some held less than a high school diploma, but several had doctoral degrees, and a large percentage of individuals had two or more years of college. Careers were so diverse as to defy simplistic classification, but many were professionals (teachers and educators, pastors and ministers of music, several pharmacists, medical professionals, a physician, and an architect). Politicians and lawyers were scarce, though one alderman was present. Others were housewives, businesspersons, contractors, and other individuals who were in positions of management. There were retirees present as well as those who are still in the workforce and those too young for the workplace.

From a religious perspective, they were largely of the Christian faith with Protestants far outnumbering Catholics. Racial diversity was nonexistent, as all were Caucasians. Economic diversity was limited largely to "middle class," but the fixed incomes of a few may have qualified them as economically disadvantaged. Millionaires, if present, were indistinguishable from the rest.

Surely, they were representative of the "Bible Belt," and, while not scientifically selected, were a goodly sampling of true Southerners.

The diverse group came bearing gifts, not everyone, but many did so, sharing of their culinary/ confectionery skills and presenting their hosts with cakes, cookies, brownies, cobblers, and homemade, freezer ice cream. Several arrived carrying an umbrella to shield them from the afternoon shower that had begun about a half-hour before five o’clock and continued for the better part of an hour.

For the most part, they came to celebrate another anniversary of the publication of this newsletter. Not all of them were subscribers or readers of this newsletter, but many of them were. Some were neighbors; some were friends, while some were both. Not everyone was from Pontotoc, though most were from within the state. Some came from Alabama, some from Georgia, some from Illinois, and some from Florida. One individual was home from Germany for a few weeks of summer vacation, and a family of five was visiting from Kenya, Africa.

The occasion, officially dubbed as the "Fourth Annual RRN Cookout," was actually only the third of its kind. The second "cookout" was postponed from the summer of 1999 to December of that year, when an open house format replaced the cookout. Still, it's easier to refer to the occasion as an annual cookout than to explain any discrepancies.

It’s difficult to identify the reason for the huge turnout, as several factors came into play. Firstly, it was the weekend of homecoming at First Baptist Church, Pontotoc, and since many readers are members of FBC, several families whose members were present for homecoming were also present for the cookout. Secondly, the popularity of the fried fish and hushpuppies served last year may have influenced the turnout this year. Thirdly, it is possible that persons familiar with the chief cooks, Lee Gordon and Jim Hess, were motivated to come and see if the cooks could do as well as they had done the prior year. Lastly, it may have something to do with the prayer of Jabez.

Presently, there is a popular book circulating among Christians based upon the prayer of an individual named Jabez as recorded in 1 Chronicles 4:9-10, of the Bible. Little is known of Jabez, but an enterprising writer, Bruce Wilkerson, has parlayed a few verses of scripture into an apparently lucrative sum of money. Persons who read Wilkerson’s book, The Prayer Of Jabez are encouraged to pray the same prayer and expect the same results that Jabez experienced. A portion of that prayer asks God to "extend my borders," presumably in order to have a wider, godly influence upon others through the life of the individual reciting the prayer. It is possible that God took this writer seriously, and in expanding his borders sent 135 people (includes immediate family and self) to attend this year’s cookout.

Regardless the reason for the large turnout, the numbers dwarfed that of last year and approximates the combined total attendance for the previous three years.

If you, the reader, had considered attending this year's celebration and were unable to do so, perhaps you can fit it into your schedule next year, assuming this writer’s borders do not expand beyond his financial capacity to entertain still larger numbers.

It should be noted that no alcoholic beverages were served on the premises. Perhaps, the success of the fish fry can be measured not in the coming but in the going and in what all was left. Five gallons of lemonade were no match for the thirsty crowd, nor were the ten dozen canned drinks and containers of bottled water.

Of the two hundred pounds of live farm-raised catfish, less than two pounds were left uncooked. Had they been prepared, then those who arrived after seven-twenty might have found fried fish to round out their plates of hushpuppies, fries, and coleslaw. Of the forty pounds of French fries that were cooked, about five pounds were not eaten. Ten pounds of corn meal mix went into the hushpuppy mix, and most of the wonderfully delicious hushpuppies were consumed.

After the crowds were gone, save for the dedicated cooks who helped with the cleanup, five umbrellas were found left by guests who most likely were too full of food to carry the extra weight. Perhaps, a different explanation is needed for the pair of women's eyeglasses left on a table under the tent, but I am not privy to that information. Leftover slaw was heavier than expected with more than a gallon of the original four gallons uneaten.

In making certain others were served, I had little time to savor the selection of desserts and ice creams brought by our generous guests to complement the meal we prepared, but I managed to sample two of the freezers of ice cream and both were fantastic. Three partially consumed caramel iced cakes were left behind for our enjoyment and thus far I have sampled two of them and can report that both are quite excellent.

From an attendance perspective this year's celebration was the largest and the food was as good as any of the previous celebrations. The down side, if there truly were a down side, would be in the inability of the hosts to spend much time visiting with everyone present. However, given the opportunity, we'd choose to do it all over again.

They Saw But Did Not See

Those who attended the 4^th Annual RRN Cookout saw, but there was much they didn't see. They saw the results of several days' work on my part, the most recent being the three days prior to the celebration, but apart from those who reside in my subdivision, few actually saw the work that went into readying the house and property for the party. I have worked (battled is more accurate) much of the summer to inhibit the advancing kudzu that borders my backyard. Chemicals have helped, but since some of the kudzu is rooted beneath the shrubbery, a great deal of patience and sweat is required to physically remove it. Our guests saw very little kudzu peeking over the shrubbery, but an observant eye would have noticed a runner here and there.

About six weeks ago, the sprinkler system was activated to keep the grass healthy during what are most often our driest days of summer. Each week as the grass grew taller the lawnmower blades were raised to trim the grass less closely than before, in order to create a denser look. Hedges were last trimmed about a month previous so they would not appear scalped, but would have had sufficient time to lush-up again. Flowerbeds were given some last minute attention as well.

Of the two tents that were setup in the backyard, the rectangular one was newer, brand new to be exact. Sarah and I had found it in Tupelo on Wednesday while looking for some hanging baskets. I was not in my truck at the time so I had to make a second trip to Tupelo that afternoon to get the tent. The tent was really a canopy, but I will refer to it as a tent. Guests at the fish fry saw and used the tent, but they didn't see the mistake I made that almost prevented the tent being set up.

My older brother agreed to help me with the tent. Neither of us have much use for written assembly instructions, but I can say that I glanced at them while we unpacked the box containing the tent. The framework was metal and the instructions clearly showed that the top of the tent's frame should be assembled first. The instructions failed (my opinion) to differentiate between using long poles and short poles for the top. Thus, we began using the short poles for the top section, and when the top was all snapped together save for one final section requiring a short pole, I despaired over the fact I was shorted a short pole. However, the box still had nine lengths of pipe (long poles). Knowing how hard it is to get "good help" these days, I presumed a careless worker at the manufacturing facility had counted out one too many legs for a tent that only needed eight legs. It was not until Fred and I had hacksawed a long pole to correspond to the short length needed that I discovered, while stretching the canopy over the framed top section, that the canopy was too long for the frame. We were supposed to have used the long sections to create the length of the 10 X 20 frame.

A quick trip to the hardware store and the welding shop followed by a futile search for a chain-link fence business bore no fruit. With every business we could think of that might possibly be able to help us closing at five o'clock, I dropped back to "Plan D" or was it "Plan E?" I knew that the severed long pole could be given a temporary fix by driving a large wooden dowel a few inches into each piece in order to rejoin the two pieces of pipe. Once I found an oak branch of the right size and trimmed it for a flush fit, we were back on schedule and soon had the new tent set up. Both of us found a bit of humor in the advertisement on the box, "Assembles In Twenty Minutes."

In the aftermath of our guest "coming and seeing," I am grateful not only for that which they saw, but equally grateful for that which they did not see.

They Conquered Worry Evaporated

Those who came to the 4^th Annual RRN Cookout and saw the well groomed surroundings and enjoyed a meal that in all modesty would receive a five star rating for backyard excellence probably did not think of themselves as conquerors, yet they served such a purpose in my life. In preparing to entertain guests, I'm not one to worry and fret that all must be perfect. I do the best I can in the time allotted for preparations and allow my wife, daughter, and sister to worry, if worrying has to be done.

I consider the castle grounds my responsibility, my domain, or my kingdom. I will work with what I'm given and groom it as best I can, but, beyond that, I allow my sister and my wife to dictate whether or not new plants are needed. And, each year they seem to feel some color is needed in addition to whatever may be blooming at the time, and each year I find myself digging deeper into my pockets to pay for the colors selected.

I was asked by more than one individual what I would do if it rained.

For most who voiced concern, I haughtily stated, "God's not gonna let it rain on my party."

I did so because I knew a young woman who held such a belief regarding her planned outdoor wedding. She was so confident of her convictions that she had no "Plan B" in case it were to rain. Guests at her wedding waited for more than an hour for the thundershower to pass rather than suffer the deluge. It's one thing to proceed with confidence, but it's always a good idea to have a "Plan B."

My "Plan B" included a tent, though I thought of the tent more as shelter from the late afternoon sun than as protection from possible rain. Renting a tent proved to be far more expensive than borrowing one and slightly more expensive than purchasing one. Thus, in having a double garage, a large porch on the guesthouse, and a couple of tents (one borrowed and one purchased), we spared our guests a rain-delayed fish-fry and allowed our party to continue dampened but not put out.

Thankfully, I had the help of others in setting up the two tents, and thankfully my older brother was in town. He, along with his son, helped transport the extra patio furniture that we borrowed. Still, at bedtime on the night prior to the party, I was exhausted.

I awoke around three-thirty Saturday morning with an uneasy sense of dread, wondering if I would have the stamina to help move still more tables and chairs, enough to seat fifty people under the tents, and be able to get them returned that night after the fish-fry. The muscles in my legs still ached, and my feet did not feel like my feet should. I had tired feet to go with the rest of me.

I lay awake for more than an hour worrying more in that hour than I had in the two months since establishing a date for the cookout. Like a toothache that gets somewhat better only to hurt again, whatever worrying took place in that hour never really left me until shortly before the fish cookers were fired up in the late afternoon. Once the cooking began and folks began to arrive to eat, there was no time to worry.

As more guests arrived I began to notice "first-time attendees," those who had not previously attended an RRN celebration. It was a genuine joy to greet each one. The effect of seeing old friends and greeting new friends and new subscribers was heartwarming, and the conquering that resulted evaporated the worries that had plagued me earlier in the day. The fellowship in the following hours not only conquered my worries but my pain as well, allowing me to be the host I desired to be.

They came, they saw, and they conquered.

Bodock Beau Spiritual Nuggets

I found the following to be quite accurate and uplifting. Thanks to Dusty Parker for the submission.

Spiritual Nuggets

To the world you might be one person, but to one person you might be the world.
Going to church does not make you a Christian anymore than going to McDonalds makes you a hamburger.
Real friends are those who, when you feel you've made a fool of yourself, don't feel you've done a permanent job.
A coincidence is when God performs a miracle, and decides to remain anonymous.
Sometimes the majority only means that all the fools are on the same side.
You don't have to attend every argument to which you're invited.
Lead your life so you won't be ashamed to sell the family parrot to the town gossip.
People gather bundles of sticks to build bridges they never cross.
Life is 10% of what happens to you and 90% of how you respond to it.
Did it ever occur to you that nothing occurs to God?
Life is like an onion; you peel off one layer at a time and sometimes you weep.
Learn from the mistakes of others. You can't live long enough to make them all yourself.
There are two things I've learned: There is a God. And, I'm not Him.
Following the path of least resistance is what makes rivers and men crooked.
Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God's grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God's grace.

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With the help of a fertility specialist, a 65-year old woman has a baby. All her relatives come to visit and meet the newest member of their family.

When they ask to see the baby, the 65-year old mother says "not yet."

A little later they ask to see the baby again.

Again the mother says "not yet."

Finally they say, "When can we see the baby!?"

And the mother says, "You'll have to wait until the baby cries."

And they ask, "Why do we have to wait until the baby cries?"

The new mother says, "because I forgot where I put it!"