When YHC pulled up to The ER there were PAX and cars all over the place. What in the world? Why so many . . . then it slowly began to dawn on the Q that they must be here for ol Abe’s last ER. Are they that glad to get rid of him??? Hmm, nothing to do but get out of the little white truck and find out.
Everybody milling around in the gloom of the light, pre-dawn rain seemed to be in a good mood. YHC started to explain the penalty for not wearing a weight vest: all those without weight vests were to do 10 burpees to start the workout and 5 burpees back at the start when finishing the 1st lap. Then 4 burpees following the 2nd lap, 3 following the 3rd, and so on. All with weight vests could take off and run the ER as usual.
“Anybody need the ER explained?”
“I do. I’m from Charlotte.”
YHC turned to see who said that and bless my eyes but there stood OBT!
“We got a democrat!” YHC yelled and threw a big ol hug around our founder’s neck.
Somebody, obviously not the mushhy type, hollered “let’s go” and the weighted ones took off. The naked hit the deck for their 10 burpees and it was on.
Jordache’s finished first with like a 100 laps. The rest is a blur. But it was a good workout.
BOM
OBT stepped forward and said a whole bunch of really nice, underserved things about YHC. Sadly, I can’t remember any of it. Too emotional. The whole thing was overwhelming.
Then YHC delivered a short farewell address. The scripture was THE SCRIPTURE that changed YHC’s life. Jeremiah 33:3, “Call unto to me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things you do not know.” 40 years ago YHC learned this verse and started calling on God. The answer was, “Follow me. Go preach the gospel and love and serve the people of the church.” That answer has made pilgrim people of Betsy and me for over 30 years. Now God has called again, as He has done a several times before, and so we’ll fold up our tents and follow once more.
God brought us here over six years ago and we met you. You men have been a blessing to me. You give me hope. I see the world, read the news, and the world is just awful, frightening, and despairing. Then I see you. Men who love the Lord their God with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. Men who love their neighbors as themselves. Men who love their wives and their children. Men who love the Body of Christ, the church. Men who are decent and work hard to provide for their families. Men who are strong, and brave, and serious about life. I didn’t know you were out there but F3 showed me who you are and showed me your character. And this has filled me with hope and joy beyond words.
You are the light of the world. You are the salt of the earth. And I love you. Thank you for the awesome privilege of serving you.
Come see us in Manning. I’ll show you some real bar-b-que.
Abraham
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