I remember our first encounter plainly.

We were sitting on the lawn at Bethel Home, during Old Timer’s Week, eating ice cream and listening to the area youth sing.

He was a newly married young man; I had been married some years already.

I had heard a fair bit about him, and the mystique of it drew me to him.

Since he lived no more than 20 miles away from me, we knew each other by name, but not personally.

I sized him up, and decided I was good for go with what I intended to do.  His reaction would tell me what he was made of.

“So,” I asked, “When are you planning on having children.”

He started a bit, straightened up, and gave me the direct look I have come to know is synonymous with him and his brother. 

He evaded my question, and if I judged correctly, was a bit miffed.

I laughed.  I had scored, and I knew what I wanted to know.  I wanted to see what kind of personality and character he had.

We talked a bit more and went our separate ways.

A couple of years later, I was in his area, and stopped by the shop he and his brother operated out of the home place.  It wasn’t a pretentious shop, but it had the internals there to get the job done and done right.  I knew that I wouldn’t be disappointed if I ever needed some repair work done by them.

I did make a remark about his coffee, again baiting him just a bit to see if he still held in my estimation. 

He did.

And later, when I was working on a jobsite nearby, he brought me some coffee for break. 

Except it was extremely strong.  I thought, “Either this guy can’t taste very well, or he is giving me some of my own medicine back.”

I made another stop at his shop a year or two later, and became better acquainted with his brother, who I hadn’t known at all previously.  He made it back to the shop as I was leaving and asked if I had a 50-amp breaker on my truck.  I had one, and gave it to him.  He wanted to pay for it, but I wouldn’t let him.  He accepted it graciously, as I expected him to do.

Later, he called and said they were putting up a new shop and wondered if we be interested in wiring it for them. 

I met with him and his brother several times to go over the details, and eventually we were working in their new building. 

That project was a lot of fun.  It was nice sized, and involved enough complexity that we had to pray a few times about it.

Six weeks ago, I heard their dad wasn’t doing so well. 

Sounded like a brain tumor.

And tomorrow, they will lay their beloved father to rest.

I didn’t know their dad that well.  But in a way I do know him very well.

He died young, just a little over 60 years old.  But he was a very effective instructor, the way it seems.

And while it won’t be easy, Wes and Waylon, you have what it takes.

Because your dad taught you to be good men just like he was.

I know, because I caught it back there on the Bethel Home lawn.