My latest work, Bernie Mac, and the end of summer

Strange week, this one. I’m blogging late today and by the time this hits the internet most people will have risen, read my article, lined the bottom of the brid cage with it and long since have gone about their business. Oh well.

I was stunned to see that comedian Bernie Mac died this morning. He was talented. I’m not much of a fan of stand up comedy these days but this guy was really funny. Like many great, black comedians, he was able to put his finger on the pulse of sensitive issues and to treat them with humor, grace and stinging intelligence. The accuracy of his characterizations was often other-wordly. It was a funnier, brighter world with Bernie Mac in it. God rest his soul. He was only 50!

I never thought I’d see Brett Favre in another uniform other than the Green Bay Packers. I’ve talked with friends a lot about this. Like Michael Jordan, Joe Montanta, and many other greats, that competitive fire inside Brett just won’t go out. He loves the game and he’ll play until nobody will have him anymore, I think. There’s a lot of high talk about legacy, and going out on a high note, and I’ve bought into that too. But, ultimately, it’s Brett’s body and Brett’s legacy and he can dispose of it all in any way he wishes. If he wants to keep playing, I’m with him. Go get’em, Brett. He’s not one for abstract ideas and the mythology of himself. He’s just Brett, the football player. I think it’s that simple to him. No legacy, no icon, just an athlete. That, in it’s own way, is refreshing. I hope he does well. I’ll always be a fan – except when he’s playing the Colts.

I haven’t been particularly pleased with my work, lately. My columns have been essentially private, personal musings, without much substance, and my features, through no fault of my interview subjects, have been drifting. I’m trying to come up with ways to change things up a bit. My four-interview, topical feature is becoming stale. I certainly don’t want the religion section to become a forum for my personal reflections about “Galen’s world” so I’m going to turn back toward more substantive columns about theological and social matters.

I’d also like to change my Tupelo-Hernando travel schedule up a bit and start visiting local churches on Sundays, like I was doing there for a while. People seemed to enjoy those columns, recounting my experience at their churches. I enjoyed it, too.

I got good feedback on the Lee County Neighbors section I did on David Smith. I really enjoy that type of reporting and writing: features. I think I do that best. Happy 30th anniversary to David, by the way. On the agenda for the coming weeks: “Back to Sunday School” – a look at new trends and important issues for teachers and students. Also, Labor Day is just around the corner. “Football as religion in the South” is an idea I’ve been considering for a while. I’m open to suggestions.

I’ll have a Local Folks story in Monday about the Rev. Roy Pitre and his wife, Christine. They’re natives of Louisiana who built up a ministry, fell on hard times, then found reconciliation and redemption together. Their story is one of a couple sticking things out, together, and I found it refreshing in this age of divorce. I hope my readers enjoy it.

 

Ok. There’s always grass to mow here in Hernando. Those ribs aren’t going to cook themselves, either.  Peace.

 

Galen