Who needs a Mentor?

 

Who was your mentor growing up and why would you name them?

I personally can name a few but here is just one:

Aunt Gladys was my high school math and science teacher but more importantly she was my aunt (mom’s sister) but what she did for me was not her teaching but her encouragement!  She included me in doing puzzles at a very early age, like 6 and 7, and then she would find different types of puzzles (typically those wooden animals or shapes) and give them to me for my birthday or Christmas.  She would also give me high school math problems when I was in grade school, and she would tell me how I was better than some of her high school students.  I don’t know if she was telling me the truth, but the fact is she basically told me I was smarter than I thought I was.  She made me want to do better.  I wish I could say she was a great Christian influence but that was not the case.  She was an officer in WWII and she could cuss like no other person I knew when she got mad.  One last thing I want to say about her example:  She lived to about 87 years old, but she basically never watched TV.  She read and I would say studied her entire life right up until she passed.  She had over 40 years of National Geographics, and she had over 100 hours of doctor level studies from OSU and other colleges (she did have a masters from OSU and undergraduate from UCO).  She would take a subject at the first of every year and study it for a year.  I know two times she studied the bible but also, she studied many other topics.  One year I helped her put together an extensive collection of leaves and one-year bugs and one year rocks and the list goes on and on.  She never could cook.  She made a difference.  Can I?  Can you?

So what do you learn in the Osage?

• small comments can make a big difference in a life
• a life well lived might be hidden if you are not looking for it
• we should honor real heroes in our lives

thanks for listening,

gary@mylifeleg
acy.com

Shidler's own Forest Gump - Jay Snow

 

Shidler’s own Forest Gump – Jay Snow

Jay Snow, Jim Miller and me

When I first moved to Shidler it seemed that everyone wanted me to fight somebody because I was so big for my age.  As I recall it was PeeWee Robinson (the littlest but best basketball player) who decided that Jay Snow and I should fight each other.  So, he started this banter between us (jay and me) where we were calling each other names and ultimately a fight was decided upon.  I should point out that Jay and I neither one had said any of the words PeeWee was saying but we both believed PeeWee.  It was decided that Jay and I would duke it out in the back yard at David Howell’s house (by far the smartest guy in the class but just never applied it to studies).  Being Shidler, it seemed that everyone in school wanted to witness this fight.  Can you imagine about 200 kids walking across town to David’s house?  I am sure it was not that many, but it sure seemed that everyone was there. 

Jay was fast and tough.  I was slow and big.  The fight began and Jay came at me with all he had.  I grabbed him by the back of his head and threw him to the ground.  Next, he got up and came at me again.  I had never fought before so when I took my fist and threw a haymaker at him, it landed on his head, but I had my thumb inside my folded fingers.  I think today I still pay for that as I have arthritis in my thumb, and it is hard to open the peanut butter jar.  Jay came at me again and I threw him to the ground.  I just really did not want to hit him, and I certainly did not want to fight in the first place.  I wonder how many kids bet on the outcome.  Finally, after a few minutes I threw him to the ground again and sat on him.  You must know the problem for Jay was that my arms were so long he had a hard time getting inside my reach.  While I sat on him and held his arms, I said why don’t we quit and call it even.  He agreed and we went inside David’s house and ate a sandwich together.  We became great friends and buddies from that day forward.

In fact, in a subtle way Jay had a long-term effect on me.  He was a strong believer in Jesus Christ, and I trusted him even though at the time it kind of drove me crazy when he would talk about Jesus.

You may not know it but Jay had some tough things going on in his early life and one day he chose to go to New York and dip his foot in the ocean and then start walking, just like Forest Gump.  Jay walked for 2 years and 4 months across America.  Later he walked across South America as well and who knows what else but finally, he settled in on becoming a Ranger with the US Park Service.  You will enjoy this video of Jay:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M0D5vyone30 

I am so glad I got to spend a good amount of time with Jay last October 2021.  Jay has passed recently but he will not be forgotten.  I miss my friend, but I have my memories.

What do you learn in the Osage?

·       Your story is important, and you need to tell it

·       You can be lost or thought dead like Jay, but not forgotten

·       A fight can be the new beginning of a great relationship

·       Forgiveness is greater than any grievance

Thanks for listening,

gary@mylifelegacy.co