Passing Icons of Americana

 

Pocket Knife

 

 

There is no question in these corners that our great country is in uncharted waters, culturally and politically. This reality is due in large part to a collective spiritual malady. The question is: are we at the point of no return? 

 

I was encouraged on Christmas day when I unwrapped a present from a special and close friend.  She knew I liked to have with me a pocket knife and since last July I had been without one. It had been confiscated from me while attending a convention at the Georgia Dome.

 



 

While I was happy to receive this replacement, the better surprise was the message that came inside the box. It was a channel marker, a buoy of sorts that said to me 'It is not too late to right the course!' Here is how it read:

 

A message from the Buck family

If this is your first Buck knife, “welcome aboard.”  You are now part of a very large family.  We think of each one of our users as a member of the Buck Knives family.

Now that you are family, you might want to know a little more about us.  The fantastic growth of Buck Knives, Inc. was no accident.  From the beginning, we determined to make God the Senior Partner. In a crisis, the problem was turned over to Him and He hasn’t failed to help us with the answer.  Each knife must reflect the integrity of management.  If sometimes we fail on our end, because we are human, we find it imperative to do our utmost to make it right.  If any of you are troubled or perplexed and looking for answers, may we invite you to look to Him, for God loves you.

            -Chuck Buck, Chairman/Owner of Buck Knives

“For God loved the world so much that he gave his only son, so that anyone who believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” –John 3:16

 



 

I am a bit sad to say that Chuck Buck passed away last year but glad to know a fourth generation is carrying on the family business.  The question is: are there still enough intact families with principle and faith in our society to keep the icons of Americana healthy?  Or are the remaining few on life support?

 

Bradford Bosworth

January 2016

 

 

 

 





Another American Treasure

In Search of Innocent Acceptance

More and more I find myself wondering where our culture is headed. If I am to believe the liberal view of things, then I am to embrace multiculturalism.  If so, then where does that leave the great artists like Charles Schulz?  Am I to then surrender to the possibility that as political correctness permeates and we lose our spiritual underpinnings of Christmas what happens to Linus van Pelt?

Well just this Christmas season a Kentucky school censored Linus' monologue from the school production of  "A Charlie Brown Christmas."

  See:

Hope's flickering light shines in Kentucky

Warm remembrances flow through me when I see all things Peanuts and Charlie Brown especially this time of year.   My own simple decorations for the season of Advent are a Peanuts' Nativity and votives in the windows. 

God forbid we should loose meaning in these creations of our country's uniquely excellent illustrator Charles M. Schulz. And it was Mr. Schulz who penned Linus van Pelt's monologue of innocent acceptance reciting scripture of Luke's Gospel:

“And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, fear not for, behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying,

‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace good will toward men’.”

Luke 2:8-14

(KJV)

Thanks and Blessings Mr. Schulz for enriching many lives. You were and are an American Treasure.

JOY TO THE WORLD!

Bradford Bosworth

Christmas 2015

Divine Appointments

Be Careful What You Wish For.

I have been enamored with football since I began participating in the game as a young boy.  My first “league” organized effort was at the Miami Shores (Fla) Community Center in the 115lb and under division.  I was eleven years old.  As kids the neighborhood pic-up game was an after school staple of our youth and we played tackle with no helmets.  My first allegiance to a team was the Miami Hurricanes and my heroes were Ted Hendricks and George Mira.  I remember taking the bus to the Orange Bowl to watch the Hurricanes play the Florida Gators who had a special quarterback and Heisman Trophy candidate named Steve Spurrier.  Eventually I left south Florida to attend High School in Tennessee and then college in Athens, Georgia at UGA and my loyalties changed, of course.

Back in the early 2000’s when I was a District Manager with a local alcoholic beverage wholesaler, I was fortunate to get an insider’s view of a University of Georgia (UGA) football practice.  One of our key beer brands was a sponsor of Bulldog football radio broadcasts. As an alumnus of UGA and longtime fan of the program it was an extremely gratifying experience. There were three individuals who are planted firmly in my memory from that afternoon on the sidelines of practice and in the reception/dinner afterwards. 

 

The first was a high energy player who seemed to be omnipresent and everywhere throughout the team drills.  He wore #47 and his name was David Pollack. 

The second gentleman happened to be next to me in line at the buffet that evening.  We were the last two to be served.  He is one of my all time most revered sports personalities and to have been able to meet and converse with him is something I will always remember. His name was Larry Munson.

The third individual is the man who said the blessing before the meal:  Head Coach Mark Richt.  At that time I looked at him in an entirely different light. I was aware of his strong religious convictions.  One thing he would let you know and not be shy about was his Faith in God.  But I was more interested in his aptitude for generating wins and championships. Back in those days my faith walk was stalling out, so to speak.  You could say I was running, turning away from God as I am prone to do daily. Over a decade later, I am different now.

Richt back diving with team.

Today I find myself in awe of what has occurred in the course of one calendar week. On Monday (11/30) I was reading sadly about Coach Richt being fired by UGA.  Yes his Bulldogs had some failings that caused performances below expectations particularly when measuring Championships.  But I have come to believe that young men in his program are set up, prepared for life to become solid citizens and assets to the communities they will reside in. When confronted with his firing I found myself saying to myself, “Georgia officials be careful what you wish for….”   I thought the firing was a travesty. I was still confused just a few days later when on Friday (12/4) I saw a picture of Coach Richt being introduced as the head coach of the Miami Hurricanes.  My first thought was – who really won in this deal?

Mark Richt is also a south Florida boy and alumnus of the U! If there ever was a series of events that were divinely “meant to be” this career move for Mark Richt appears to be an example. So allegiances have come back around for me now as I know I will become a fan of the Hurricanes once again.  I don’t know what will happen the first time Miami and Georgia square off on the gridiron.  God Bless you Brother Mark!

Bradford Bosworth

December,  2015

Majestic Messengers

I do not take much for granted these days and my faith leads me to believe that everything happens for a reason- hot and cold. Everyone that comes onto my path, into my life is here for a reason; to teach or learn from me. I first became aware of this idea after reading M. Scott Peck's writings.

"All human interactions are opportunities to learn or to teach and when you neither learn nor teach you are passing up an opportunity."

"Further Along the Road Less Traveled" M. Scott Peck

When I was a child there was a woman who rivaled my mother for my love and affection. Largely because she almost spent as much time with me. I knew her as "Aunt Betty". Her name was Elizabeth McDowell and she was actually my mother Jeanne's aunt. While growing up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania my mother Jeanne thought Betty was actually her sister as she did her own mother. That is a story for another time.  Aunt Betty was my Godmother literally and figuratively.  She was gone before I was fourteen years old; brain aneurysm. I have always felt a void inside although it is smaller and smaller by day.

I always take pause when I meet a new person named Betty.  If you are named Betty you will always get from me what one might call the - benefit of the doubt.  I am likely to be more attentive to the learning and or teaching aspect of the interaction.  Now there is a part of me that looks for an added signal or message from my Creator simply as part the residue of my Aunt Betty's expansive Love.

In the past two years another Betty has come into my life. Most every Sunday (when I'm there) at the early worship service at our Smyrna First UMC she sits in the pew just ahead of me.  I look forward to seeing her. She is Holy Spirit filled!  A year and a half ago after noticing in Church my Harley-Davidson wear, she told me she had on her  "bucket list" to take a ride on a Harley.  I knew immediately that I would be the one to take her.  Just in the past week she took that ride and I was at the controls.  It was a great day.  There was a lot of learning and teaching going on.  I was able in some way that only God could comprehend to express love for my precious and long ago departed (from this world) Aunt Betty.

Amen Sisters

Bradford Bosworth
November, 2015

  

Angels of Angola

" Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers......."

Hebrews 13:2

Just this past week I was driving four young German men to the airport after they had been on a two week Harley-Davidson ride around our south land. They had rented their bikes from our EagleRider rental business as many from around the world do. As is my practice, I make a point of asking our customers - after their ride - what was their favorite place or experience. I have become accustomed to hearing New Orleans or The Tail of the Dragon mentioned along with the Smokey Mountains.  On this occasion however, these men could not hide their enthusiasm as they started to tell of a place quite different from the popular riding destinations.

At first I thought I was having hearing difficulties. Their English was broken, but what they were trying to tell me, well it did not make sense.  I asked, "A prison?"  Peter, the one with the best command of the English language said something like "Inglo Prison Rodeo".  It took me a few more queries before I realized they were trying to name a prison north of New Orleans.  So Peter began to describe about this festival atmosphere that included an arts and crafts exposition and a full blown rodeo. I made them spell the name for me -ANGOLA.

I am thinking to myself- how in the world did you learn about this place half way around the world in Germany? Before I could ask they said that back home they saw a television story about this prison and decided that they should go see it.  Then they began to tell me about the crafts show and the amazing wood creations put forth by the inmates.   

These German men could not hide their astonishment about what they had experienced at this the largest maximum security prison in the United States.  The Louisiana State Prison had opened it's doors to the public who had mingled with the inmate population who had welcomed them in with gracious hospitality.  The prisoners were the stars of the rodeo.  They were the artist vendors displaying their crafts for the buying public.  Our Harley renters were glad they bought advanced tickets to the rodeo because the tickets were sold out on site!

Looking at the history of this penitentiary can cause one to shudder. The name Angola designates the African territory the original slaves of this southern state were transported from. It is a secluded place for only the most hardened criminals.  An Arts and Crafts fair at a maximum security prison seems an extreme juxtaposition and even more so when the vendors are wearing stripes!  Then I started seeing the expressions on these men's faces.  My German friends said that the gates of Angola were open for this event and the inmates as well as their guests were free to roam and mingle together.  These men for a day were free. They were free to live life to the brim.  I cannot help but believe that for one day - in this unique celebratory environment - these artists and rough rider men were guests not hosts.  It was these four young German men and attending public showing the hospitality to angels.

Amen Brothers

Bradford Bosworth
October, 2015