When I was in high school I got very involved in BYF, Baptist Youth Fellowship, being elected vice-president of the entire San Joaquin (Not sure how to spell that now.) Valley youth conference. It was my job to get speakers for our large meetings and take care the music, which was a huge part of the more-or-less evangelical/born-again meetings. I was good at it. I led the large congregations of kids in hymn singing and got the pretty worked up and ready to accept Jesus as their savior. I fancied myself the Elmer Gantry of the BYF. I had a suit which was grey/black, but which was shiny like slik and I really thought I was the "looker" and evangalist in that suit. What I have here is a song book we used for those functions. The Hymns in it are pretty traditional, but more on the upbeat side of things. The publish date in the song book is 1951. That would be about right. I grsduated from high school in 1957.
1 comment:
I remember the song book which takes my mind to the song, "Do Lord" which, I believe is in the book.
I really want to describe my relationship with Rollie at the time when he was involved in BYF activities.
I believe our family moved from the farm to Visalia in 1954. I was in the 6th grade at Conyer Elementary School in Visalia, and Rollie had to be in the 10th grade at Mt. Whitney.
It was emotionally very difficult for me to adjust to the move and I ached to return to the farm. At one point early in the 7th grade, my friend Tony and I decided to run away from home back to the farm. It was my idea that, because I knew the farm property so well, which I did, Tony and I could exist without anyone knowing we were living on the property. We believed that we could steal food from the tenants without getting caught.
Well, it is about 30 miles from Visalia to the farm and by the time we got there it was dark, and our plan was not so romantic. We presented ourselves to the Kawanos - neighbors to the property and family friends, and they called Mother and Dad who came and got us.
I believe it was about this time that Rollie decided to take me under his wing.
He was very active in church activities which provided almost all of his social life.
Wherever he went, he took me with him. If it was a high school party, he had me with him. No matter what, I was with him, and I idolized him.
To this day, I wish I could be just like him.
Post a Comment