Issue 1357 – The Old Timer – January 30, 2024
As I passed by the farm supply store, my gaze fell upon a figure leaning against a pillar, seemingly rooted in place. It felt like he had been born there, and the pillar was built beside him. A frown involuntarily creased my brow.
If there was ever a man who was a stereotypical hillbilly farmer, he was it. I remember thinking that he made Jed Clampett of The Beverly Hillbillies look like a sophisticated city dweller.
The old timer was dressed in a set of faded bib overalls, patched in more than one place and a cotton shirt that might have been blue once. His cowboy boots had seen better days; they might been black when they were new, but it had been so long since they had seen a coat of polish that it was hard to tell.
His cowboy hat was of an indescribable shape and colour, and probably far older than I was (I was in my late twenties at the time). He leaned over and spit out a long stream of tobacco juice. His face was leathered and old, and he was missing several teeth.
He needed a haircut, and his grey beard was long. matted and tangled. A roll-your-own cigarette hung from his lips. He was the only person I have ever seen who was chewing tobacco and smoking at the same time.
I presumed he was uneducated, a terrible prejudice on my part. I don’t know what sort of education he had, and in those days, I confused formal education with wisdom. The two don’t always go together. Some of the wisest people I ever met never got through high school, and some didn’t even get that far. Some of the most well-educated people I know might be experts in their fields but are clueless about anything else.
I guessed he was poor (another prejudice at the time), and I was only interested in people with money. I have learned that you can’t tell how wealthy someone is by the externals. I know people in huge mansions, but they can’t afford to eat. I know people in little run-down houses with beat-up cars who have more money than I will earn in my lifetime.
His grin and the twinkle in his eyes told of stories to be shared and secrets to be unlocked. I often recall that day and see his face and wish I had stopped and listened to what he might have had to share. I hadn’t bothered because I was a busy banker on the move and overly impressed with my own importance. I had important things to do and powerfully important people to meet with.
We were movers and shakers; he was just another down-on-his-luck old-timer on the sidewalk.
Yet when I think back, I don’t remember where I was going or who I saw that morning, as important as those things seemed. I only remember the old man. I was young and proud and had no time for poor-looking old-timers.
What could they possibly have to say that would matter to me? I know now that there was probably much I could have learned from him. I know now that a few minutes spent listening to his tales could have enriched my life.
Over the years, I have learned that everyone has a story. Everyone has a piece of the tapestry that we call life, and we only see the larger picture when we stop and share it. We need to learn to share our stories and to listen to the stories of others.
I don’t know anything about the old man, but I don’t doubt that he had life stories. Smooth sailing and hard times. Love and loss. Success and failure. The things in life that are truly important and the things that he struggled over ultimately didn’t matter.
Christians call that story a testimony.
We talk about how God has brought us through the best and worst of times. If we’re honest, we talk about the times when God was faithful even when we weren’t, and the times He came through despite our doubts.
We are called to have a testimony. 1 Peter 3:15-16 says, “… your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect, having a good conscience, so that, when you are slandered, those who revile your good behaviour in Christ may be put to shame.”
Our testimony should include our experiences, but often, we fail to include the most critical component. We tell people what God has done, but we fail to tell them what we believe about the God who has done these marvellous things.
Our testimony is about God, but He uses our story to provide a lens to see through.
You have a story to share, a testimony. Are you prepared to tell others about it? Are you ready to listen as others share their story?
Be blessed
Hallelu Yah / Praise God
Kevin
Gleanings From The Word
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (For the Glory of God alone)
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All contents, “Gleanings From The Word” and “Experience an Extraordinary God in Ordinary Life,” are © 2001, 2024 K.F. “Kevin” Corbin, Gleanings From The Word.
Unless otherwise noted, all Scripture is from the English Standard Version (ESV).
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