"Behind the Mask"

“Behind the Mask”

As I was getting adjusted to my ministry in Auburn in the late 1960’s I noticed an “older” gentleman (at that time he was about my present age so that word now has a different meaning) who was in the same place as an usher every Sunday. After several weeks I asked our Church Secretary who he was and learned he was her dad and had served the Lord in this way for decades. And since she became my mother-in-law a little more than a year later Lavern Depew came with the package and assumed the role of my grandfather-in-law.

Buster (a nickname given him by my son Dave) was a beekeeper by trade and built a successful honey business. He grew up as an only child and social events weren’t his thing. But while he gave the appearance of being stern and aloof behind the mask he was a man who honored God and loved his family, including an import with a Brooklyn accent. I grew to appreciate him and without his realizing it he left me with some priceless memories and lessons:

 -He greatly valued God’s creation and enjoyed getting out to see it, including driving to Alaska with Tweet (a nickname Karen early on gave her grandmother).

 -He had strong convictions which he consistently practiced (signs prominently displayed at the head of his driveway and on the building housing his business said, “No Sunday sales.”).

 -He had a dry wit which often brought peals of laughter at family gatherings (his comment when political leaders did things he didn’t approve of: “Doesn’t that steam your glasses?” Check the “A Friend Indeed” article for another example).

If I’d based my conception of the kind of man Buster was on my first impression of his outward demeanor it would have been wrong. The man behind the mask was very different from what was visible. I had the privilege of knowing him for 23 years before Jesus welcomed him into Heaven in 1991. To make Philippians 1:3 personal, “I thank my God every time I remember Buster.” I’m happy God used him to show me the importance of getting to know the real person by building a relationship. I pray I’ll never forget this lesson—it has enriched my life.

 

Blessings!

Jim McMillan