THIS IS FOR YOU,
ALLIE
From Wayne Hinton
1/23/2016
This is just for
you, Allie, since Ron is now asleep
And a great many
people will miss what he had to say.
But no one can
ever come close to understanding
How you were near
him and heard him day after day.
For almost 63
years, actually it was more,
Since your days in
high school you were side by side.
You shared your
many ups and downs
As well as the
times you just wanted to run and hide.
For the time
being, you will hear from a lot of friends
Offering condolences
and wishing you well.
They really mean
it, too, even though it won’t be long
Before the time
between their wishes will be longer than you will tell.
You will never
forget the good times you had together
Or the times when
things might have gone better.
Then there were
the many times you were apart
And looked forward
to reading his letter.
I want to share my
memories so you will know
How much you have
both meant to me over the years.
In the beginning
Ron and I were only acquaintances
Until now when his
passing brings me to tears.
When we lived in
New Orleans was when we first got to know
Each other more
than letters could possibly come to reveal.
Tom recommended my
ordination to Ron and all that was needed
Was the proper
approvals and the final seal.
Moving to Dallas
interrupted the process and we had to start over.
Another Tom, in
DFW, thought I was already ordained.
He allowed me to
continue to preach sermons
Since he was aware
of the knowledge I had gained.
Keep in mind that
I am not writing these words about me –
Only about the
very special relationship I had with Ron.
He had a very
special and unique way of speaking
When other
ministers might make one yawn.
He studied night
and day to understand
The scriptures
that God has given to us all.
Only Ron had a
God-given way of passing along
His knowledge
without making others feel small.
Ron knew his
limitations, as you well know.
So he wisely built
upon his strengths which were many.
Solomon asked for
wisdom and God granted his wish
And I know that many
people’s brains aren’t worth a penny.
I’ll never forget
the first time Ron called me “friend”,
Even though it
wasn’t face to face.
It was in a sermon
he was giving at the Feast
I thought he meant
me, and he admitted it was the case.
We shared some amazing
“coincidences” that many don’t know
Nita has reminded
me how my sermon messages were aligned with his.
Even though we
never compared notes or discussed our plans
Ahead of time, we
could not have been closer if given a quiz.
Ron was smooth
with his deciding to change the Feast
To include the
Festival Association to handle some things.
Asking me to run
it for the first couple of years
Was an honor for
me without any strings.
Later, when he
asked that I join the Board,
It was, once
again, my honor to join the team.
I learned more
about Ron and his plans for years to come.
He was so clear
and concise, because, in short, he had a dream.
He talked openly
in the Directors meetings
About the day his life
on this earth might be done.
His plan included
tapes in a can that were ready
To carry on his
broadcasts for many years under the sun.
My first sermon (I
recently found the notes from it -
I was only about
12 years of age at the time)
Was for the Youth
Program at our church.
It wasn’t very
long and as far as I can tell,
The words may have
left many in the lurch.
It was my dream as
a teenage boy
To be a preacher
in my own church someday.
Over the years, my
concept changed from church
As a building to
what Christ taught as The Way.
When I was
ordained by Ron, it was again a great honor,
To be recognized
by my own congregation as well as by him.
And I readily
acknowledge that in the teachings I give others
I owe the contents
and understanding to Ron, life and limb.
One thing I regret
is not realizing how seriously Ron took things,
For once I
mentioned to him about a habit of his.
He often said that
a thing might exist “until the cows come home”
Then he quit using
the phrase from that day to this.
I am very thankful
for the times he and I talked,
Maybe more than
you even know,
Because the words
between us were smooth
And as comfortable
as communications can flow.
Alas, the last
discussion I had with Ron was over the phone,
And we each had
difficulty with our words coming to mind.
He knew that he
was only alive at that time because
God still had
something for him to do even as he was in a bind.
It is little
comfort to know that you and I will see him again
In God’s Kingdom.
He has gone ahead of us there.
His next waking moment
with be with Jesus Christ
And he will get
his chance to give his burdens to Him to share.
During our past
few phone calls, Ron and I agreed
About the stress
and dedication of a caregiver.
We agreed that we
both appreciate it all so very much
That your hearts
and love must be deeper than any river.
But, and I rarely
use that word, I really want you to know, Allie,
That even in our
last one on one telephone call,
Ron never lost
sight of God’s meaning of life and the Kingdom,
And the service
you gave to him while here, and that he loved you most of all.
