Brando

I was honored to be asked to speak at the life celebration service for a dear cousin and quiet man, Guitar Man, Brandon Claude Smith.  Words cannot make the hurt go away and can’t really bring an understanding of why things happen the way they do. But I have learned that trusting God, trusting that God understands and has a purpose, at least for me, helps me to cope.  My heart breaks for our family, time will help us move forward, carrying his memory with us and as one of his nephews said eventually, our tears will be replaced smiles when we remember, when we share the stories of the Guitar Man.

Brando

Hero, noun

1. a) a person who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities

I am drawn to the heroes of my youth, when sizing up or testing the metal of an acquaintance or when meeting someone for the first time.
My daddy, John Wayne, Davey Crocket, and Tarzan were the heroes of my childhood, the ones I wanted to emulate and probably unfairly their characteristics make up the gauge I use to measure all others.
They shared attributes that I see as the mark of a man and so to this day I use them to determine the quality of character in myself and others.

I realize that two of the four listed were fictional or fictionalized characters from history and one was an actor that played the same basic person in every movie he was in. But they, along with several other real people from my life share strength and quietness that I look for when looking for guidance or advice. They were not perfect, far from it, they had flaws that were visible to anyone intent on finding them and unfortunately, faults tend to be more visible to those closest to us. These men or characters held a place in the shaping and molding of my perception of how a man should talk, act and what he should stand for and even how they walk or carry themselves.

Maybe it’s because of how I perceive a strong leader that I associate some of the Qualities of my childhood heroes to Jesus Christ as well.  And certainly, as a minister and a man of faith, He is my ultimate Hero. As I understand scripture, He was also strong, both physically and mentally, He spoke when he needed to and remained silent otherwise, often it was his actions that spoke louder than his words.  He wasn’t afraid of work and met challenges head-on further solidifying the perception of what I consider a mans, man or what defines a true Hero to me.  However, in the example of Jesus, He did it all with no character flaws, no failures, no sin. All to pay the Ultimate Price for our sins, that we might have life and have it more abundantly.

It’s with these memories and ideas that I measure men and women, my Hero Test if you will.  Now, I’m not saying it’s a scientific test, completely accurate or that it would even satisfy your idea of a Hero, but, to me, a Hero is one that stands for right,
stands for family, and lives according to a code, the code. Does what they were put here to do, what they were called to do it, not necessarily according to societies rules or ideas.
Not perfect, but perfectly fitting into the space that God placed them in.

When I think of a hero, I don’t think of a man with a cape or a suit armor.  I think of men and women that selflessly give themselves for their family.  Doing the right thing when no one is looking, being kind to the weakest among us.
Men and women that sell their time, working to feed and clothe that gives themselves for the good of their family.  That teaches and lives right, in front of their family and peers.  The real heroes are not the ones that always get the credit, the notoriety, or their names up in lights.  They work, and struggle and give, expecting little in return
They bring a quiet calm into our lives, They have walked some hard roads, and can show others where to walk and where not to.  They are the strength of their families,

The backbone of communities, Friends of us all, but not afraid to take a stand regardless of whether they have to stand alone.
When we have these kinds of people in our lives, it’s important that we pay attention,
That we cherish our time with them, that we capture the lessons that often they don’t even realize they’re teaching us.
This is the sum, at least in my mind, of the Heroes of this world.
I am for Sure and for Certain that I’m not the only one that Feels this way.
Their often unspoken message to the rest of us would be to hug more, smile more, to talk to God more and to each other more, forgive more, forget more, live more, Love more!

He was a singer,
A natural-born guitar ringer.
Kind of a clinger,
To sad old songs.
Not a walk-behinder
a new note finder
And his name will forever be a reminder,
Of a guitar man that’s too soon gone

God Bless You Richly,
Greg

Author: Greg Fee

I'm a Husband, Father, Pawpaw and Pastor. I love spending time with my grand-buddies. A minister since 1988, I have been blessed to work in several churches around the U.S and currently am blessed to pastor an Awesome Church. I've also had the pleasure of ministering in faraway places while traveling for work. Some of my greatest honors have been the relationships I gained with several of the modern-day Heros of the Faith, the ministering families all around the world. Several years ago I started working with leather as a means to fight boredom while working in remote areas. It swiftly became a passion that I want to share as well. My plan is to keep spreading God's Love through the written and preached word, through walking the walk, and to keep making cool stuff along the way. Check that out at whisper_n_jack on Instagram View all posts by Greg Fee