Here is a piece that my friend Jason Tarka and I put together for Advent for Mosaic Church.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
My Tribute to My Grandfather
I am honored to pay tribute to a man you knew as Travis P. Blue, but who I knew as “Papa”, or more affectionately called, “First National Bank of Grandpa.” I never told him I called him that.
I have many fond memories of Papa. I remember as a kid being amazed at all the things my Papa could do. I remember once my dad taking cans and throwing so that we could shoot at them. I was in awe how Papa could hit the can every time. It wasn’t until later I learned how a shotgun worked.
I remember going to visit Papa and he always had all the time in the world to spend with me. It wasn’t until later that I learned what retirement meant.
I remember when I would leave he would slip some money into my pocket. It wasn’t until later that I learned what federal government retirement meant.
I remember going up to my great-grandma’s house to go hunting. I remember getting up early and sitting in the blind up in the tree. Papa was sitting there very quietly and patiently – watching and waiting. I was sitting there freezing cold wondering when we were going to break out the hot chocolate we brought.
I remember one time my dad, Papa, and I all together got a deer, expect it wasn’t with a gun, it was with the front end of Papa’s El Camino.
I remember working out in the shed with him. I remember him making me a display case for my baseball cards. It was nice. It had a glass top with a lid that opened up and had carpet on the bottom. I was very impressed. He also made me some ninja nun chucks as well. Not sure what he was thinking on that one.
I remember one time he took some limbs and sticks and actually made me a bow and arrow. It was amazing. It actually worked. It worked so well I remember shooting an arrow up in the sky across the yard and was amazed how far I could get this backyard homemade bow and arrow to shoot. A few minutes later Mema walks back up from the garden with this long thin sharp stick in her leg. Papa then got another twig and shaved it. But this time it wasn’t an arrow it was a switch.
It wasn’t until now that I realized that these memories of Papa were much more than memories. They were moments of influence. They helped shape me to be the person I am today. I hope my life, more than my words today, honor him well.
There are many things about Papa that stand out to me that I wish to imitate in my life. I want to share 3 of them with you.
First, his devotion to and love for his wife. He was the epitome of a one-woman kind of man that the Bible describes as a qualification for an elder. Mema was his queen. I remember him always doing things for her. Mema knew it too. I remember one time at the cabin she fell and hurt her arm and insisted that she was ok. That is, until Papa walked in. Then she said, “Oh Travis I am hurt you have to take me to the hospital.” They left immediately back to Searcy.
Second, was his excitement for life. I never saw him in a bad mood, never saw him angry. He always up for anything. Anytime you said, “Hey Papa, you want to go do something?”, he would say, “well allright”. I remember a few years ago he, my dad, and myself went to an air show in Fayetteville. During one part of the show, a stealth fighter zoomed right overhead and then at almost 90 degree went straight up. Papa just watched that plane very intently, and then leaned over and said, “you think they’d let me ride in that thing?”
He also liked to work and that was a way that he enjoyed life. Finding satisfaction in his work. I was always amazed at the balance that he was able to strike between doing and being. He loved mowing his yard. He loved working in the garden. But equally he loved just sitting around in the living room talking.
Third, I want to imitate his love all people. Papa loved people and you always knew that people mattered most to him in life. Whenever you came to visit he always got out of his chair and greeted you at the door. And no matter which of my friends from college I brought by, in just a few minutes he could find a connection where he knew someone they knew.
When people around him were building garages that they kept closed, he had an open carport. When people were building large back porches and putting up fences, he had a swing in his front yard and no fence. Even these things communicated that his house was inviting and open to people.
Although not everything about Papa do I imitate. Papa loved to take honey and butter and mix them together and put them on his roll. I tried it for awhile and it was good but it just didn’t stick.
From his work with the children’s home to his helping Aunt Mazel, he modeled what a pure and undefiled religion looks like. As I sit teach my kids over the years of what it looks like to live like Jesus Christ, I will say to them, “Let me tell you about Papa.”
I have many fond memories of Papa. I remember as a kid being amazed at all the things my Papa could do. I remember once my dad taking cans and throwing so that we could shoot at them. I was in awe how Papa could hit the can every time. It wasn’t until later I learned how a shotgun worked.
I remember going to visit Papa and he always had all the time in the world to spend with me. It wasn’t until later that I learned what retirement meant.
I remember when I would leave he would slip some money into my pocket. It wasn’t until later that I learned what federal government retirement meant.
I remember going up to my great-grandma’s house to go hunting. I remember getting up early and sitting in the blind up in the tree. Papa was sitting there very quietly and patiently – watching and waiting. I was sitting there freezing cold wondering when we were going to break out the hot chocolate we brought.
I remember one time my dad, Papa, and I all together got a deer, expect it wasn’t with a gun, it was with the front end of Papa’s El Camino.
I remember working out in the shed with him. I remember him making me a display case for my baseball cards. It was nice. It had a glass top with a lid that opened up and had carpet on the bottom. I was very impressed. He also made me some ninja nun chucks as well. Not sure what he was thinking on that one.
I remember one time he took some limbs and sticks and actually made me a bow and arrow. It was amazing. It actually worked. It worked so well I remember shooting an arrow up in the sky across the yard and was amazed how far I could get this backyard homemade bow and arrow to shoot. A few minutes later Mema walks back up from the garden with this long thin sharp stick in her leg. Papa then got another twig and shaved it. But this time it wasn’t an arrow it was a switch.
It wasn’t until now that I realized that these memories of Papa were much more than memories. They were moments of influence. They helped shape me to be the person I am today. I hope my life, more than my words today, honor him well.
There are many things about Papa that stand out to me that I wish to imitate in my life. I want to share 3 of them with you.
First, his devotion to and love for his wife. He was the epitome of a one-woman kind of man that the Bible describes as a qualification for an elder. Mema was his queen. I remember him always doing things for her. Mema knew it too. I remember one time at the cabin she fell and hurt her arm and insisted that she was ok. That is, until Papa walked in. Then she said, “Oh Travis I am hurt you have to take me to the hospital.” They left immediately back to Searcy.
Second, was his excitement for life. I never saw him in a bad mood, never saw him angry. He always up for anything. Anytime you said, “Hey Papa, you want to go do something?”, he would say, “well allright”. I remember a few years ago he, my dad, and myself went to an air show in Fayetteville. During one part of the show, a stealth fighter zoomed right overhead and then at almost 90 degree went straight up. Papa just watched that plane very intently, and then leaned over and said, “you think they’d let me ride in that thing?”
He also liked to work and that was a way that he enjoyed life. Finding satisfaction in his work. I was always amazed at the balance that he was able to strike between doing and being. He loved mowing his yard. He loved working in the garden. But equally he loved just sitting around in the living room talking.
Third, I want to imitate his love all people. Papa loved people and you always knew that people mattered most to him in life. Whenever you came to visit he always got out of his chair and greeted you at the door. And no matter which of my friends from college I brought by, in just a few minutes he could find a connection where he knew someone they knew.
When people around him were building garages that they kept closed, he had an open carport. When people were building large back porches and putting up fences, he had a swing in his front yard and no fence. Even these things communicated that his house was inviting and open to people.
Although not everything about Papa do I imitate. Papa loved to take honey and butter and mix them together and put them on his roll. I tried it for awhile and it was good but it just didn’t stick.
From his work with the children’s home to his helping Aunt Mazel, he modeled what a pure and undefiled religion looks like. As I sit teach my kids over the years of what it looks like to live like Jesus Christ, I will say to them, “Let me tell you about Papa.”
My Five Favs
Revolution – The Beatles: The fast version. Does anyone remember it in the old black and white Nike commercial? That commercial was my first introduction to the Beatles. My absolute favorite song of all time and I still to this day mess up the lyrics. Also, it is the only song that makes me feel like, no matter what’s happening, “it’s gonna be allright.”
Baba O’Riley – The Who: No other rock song conveys as much energy and emotion as this one! This song absolutely requires that you bounce your head along to Pete Townsend swinging his arm!
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2: Absolutely the best intro to a song ever! Is this song about a city in Africa or is it about Heaven? Ah, the beauty of Bono’s lyrics. This song makes me want to go out and make the world a better place.
Under Pressure – Queen and David Bowie: I have never heard a song that uses so many different musical and lyrical elements to communicate so many emotions in one song. In under four minutes, this song gets to the heart of what everyone wants out of life – to move from despair to hope, from loneliness to love, and from fear to faith.
Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns ‘n Roses: Like Elaine’s boyfriend who loved Desperado, as soon as I hear the guitar intro of this song, everything around me comes to an immediate halt. This song both rocks but yet is sort of a ballad at the same time.
Baba O’Riley – The Who: No other rock song conveys as much energy and emotion as this one! This song absolutely requires that you bounce your head along to Pete Townsend swinging his arm!
Where the Streets Have No Name – U2: Absolutely the best intro to a song ever! Is this song about a city in Africa or is it about Heaven? Ah, the beauty of Bono’s lyrics. This song makes me want to go out and make the world a better place.
Under Pressure – Queen and David Bowie: I have never heard a song that uses so many different musical and lyrical elements to communicate so many emotions in one song. In under four minutes, this song gets to the heart of what everyone wants out of life – to move from despair to hope, from loneliness to love, and from fear to faith.
Sweet Child O’ Mine – Guns ‘n Roses: Like Elaine’s boyfriend who loved Desperado, as soon as I hear the guitar intro of this song, everything around me comes to an immediate halt. This song both rocks but yet is sort of a ballad at the same time.
Recycling Confusion
The other day I received in the mail a recycling newsletter from my city. One article in the newsletter reminded me to save water and cut back on use as much as I can. Another article in the newsletter reminded me not to put any containers in the recycling bins if they still had any food product on them. I wonder if they city realizes how much water it takes to completely clean out peanut butter and chocolate syrup containers?
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