March 5, 2020 - On our way home from Center yesterday, Pam and I decided to visit Bland Lake near San Augustine. Since it was a beautiful day to drive, we took “the back way" to Shelbyville, to Clever Creek and then the old road from Neuville to Bland Lake. About two miles from the Lake, I suddenly asked Pam to pull over. I couldn’t believe what I saw! It was the old Willie and Maud Bucklew house place and it looked exactly like it did in 1955 when I became pastor of Liberty Hill Baptist Church of San Augustine, Texas.
There it was---the old well, the old “Car House”, the wash pot, the mailbox and the chain link fence that that we had our long talks over. I could just imagine Maud behind the house still plowing with her hand plow. I also remembered the long discussions that Willie and I had sitting in front of the fireplace. And there was one thing Maud always insisted on after I visited them that I take something she had canned home with me---and I especially loved her canned peas.
I was Pastor at Liberty Hill my last year in college and left afterwards to a pastorate in Portland, Oregon. I’m an old feller now (86 years old) and have outlived most of my friends at Liberty Hill. One of the greatest blessings that God has given me has been dear friends. Willie and Maud crossed The Jordan many years ago, but I will never forget them.
Their rewards are stored in heaven.
