Jump Start # 3986
Psalms 122:1 “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go to the house of the Lord.’”
Throwback Thursday: an article written from the past
Grandpa Zek
Greetings again from all the folks down here at the country church. Winter has been kinda mild for us which has allowed many of us folks to get out and meet down at the church house. These country roads can sure become difficult to travel on when they become muddy and snowy. Well, its been so nice that even Grandpa Zek has been able to get out.
Zek, his real name is Zedekiah, is nearly 93 years old. Everyone calls him ‘Grandpa Zek’ because he’s older than any one else around here. He likes all the attention and fuss that people give him. At one time Grandpa Zek once preached. In fact he used to travel all over the county preaching and he helped start many of our congregations in the area. He all but built our meetin’ house himself. Zek had a special way of doing things with his tools. Most folks remember Grandpa Zek as the man who rang the church bell. Every Sunday that bell could be heard and folks would know that it was time to get over to the meetin’ house. When there was a wedding you could just count on Zek ringing that bell loud and long for all the people to hear. When someone died in the community, Zek would ring the bell just the number of times that the person was old. He even came and rang it when his own wife passed away a few years back.
Grandpa Zek is by himself these days. His children have all been raised and moved away. Zek’s age is starting to catch up with him and he has been feeling poor for a while. The doctor has given him some strong medicine which helps him, that is when Zek remembers to take it.
One time recently, Ze came out for services at the church house. He had forgotten to take his medicine and he also forgot to bring his hearing aid. Zek couldn’t hear much with them in and without them you couldn’t holler loud enough for him to hear you. At the end of the second song, Grandpa Zek thought the song leader said for everyone to stand. So he did. The song leader, Will Thompson, waved at Grandpa Zek to get him to sit down. Grandpa Zek just smiled and waved back. Most folks just snickered a bit at it all. During the sermon, bro. Burnett was preaching that morning for us, Grandpa Zek went into one of his spells. Zek stood up and proceeded to empty everything out of his pockets. Grandpa carried just about everything he owned in his pockets. He pulled out a knife, his pencils, his eye glasses, several coupons, coins, paper clips, rubber bands, a screw driver, a letter from one of his children, his pocket watch and three nails. He laid all these things beside his Bible on the pew. ‘Bout this time, Grandpa Zek must have forgotten why he was standing, so he started to say a prayer. It was a mighty prayer– like they did in the olden days, long and loud. Bro. Burnett waved for him to sit down. Grandpa just smiled and waved back. He then went through the long process of putting each item back into his pockets, one by one, mumbling to himself as he did it. A couple of the men when up to sit with Grandpa. Grandpa Zek always sat on the front row– right in front of the pulpit, so he could hear better.
The rest of the service seemed to get back to normal. Bro. Burnett finished his lesson where he had left off. The communion was passed and Grandpa did just fine. But when the collection was taken, Grandpa couldn’t find his money. So he stood up and emptied his pockets into the hands of the two men now sitting with him. Grandpa then remembered that he put the money in the Bible so he wouldn’t forget it. Grandpa claimed that he put the money in the book of the Bible that starts with “M” (which he’d remember because of money). Well the brethren searched through Matthew, then Mark, then Malachi, and finally Micah. They couldn’t find any money. Grandpa was certain that someone must have taken it when he was saying his prayer. Bro. Burnett took a look at Grandpa’s Bible and found the money in the book of Numbers (N’s look like M’s to Grandpa).
After that we thanked the good Lord for our worship. Now some folks might think that we should keep Grandpa Zek from coming—especially when he has spells like this. Others might suggest that we call his children and let them know what he is doing. As we were leaving that day, we all just smiled and waved to Grandpa Zek and told him to come again. (I don’t think he heard what we were saying though). Down here we’ve learned to just accept each other as we are Some of the men now help Grandpa remember where his money is before the services begin. And when Grandpa takes a notion to stand we all just stand with him. Even bro. Burnett has taken a liking to Grandpa Zek.
Well, that’s just the way folks ought to be, don’t you think?
Roger
April, 1992