Father's Day 2019: Don't Look Back

Inspiration

By Charles Towne

When I was no bigger than a pup-kid my first teachers were my folks and I am here to tell you I was a hard study. Daddy especially was a hard taskmaster, and the only thing that I can tell you for of certainty is that I sure do wish I had been a better student and listened to what he had to say better then I did. If I had been a better listener I more than likely wouldn’t have had near as much trouble growing up, but then I always was dumber than a stump, a slow study, if you get my drift.

Several years before I was even a gleam in my daddy’s eye he settled on a little homestead on two islands on the Fox River in Illinois. That’s where he took mama when they were married and that fertile river bottom land was good for raising two crops, corn and kids. Eventually, when daddy thought I was big enough he took advantage of the labor force and he taught me to plow the field at which time he gave me some darned good advice which eventually sank in. His words were few and to the point and I will never forget them, they were, “Never look back boy, never look back.” Come to think about it I guess that is pretty good advice for all of us, isn’t it?

What he meant by that never look back thing can be found in Luke 9:62 in the bible, “if a man, (or a boy) puts his hand to the plow and looks back, he isn’t fit for the kingdom of God.” Dad learned that by experience the hard way I am sure because I don’t remember him ever reading the bible in those early years.

What he meant was this, when You are pulling a plow, and if you want your furrows to be nice and straight you should always keep your focus way out there in front of you because sure as mama cats have little kittens, right at that place where you looked back you are going to have a crooked place in your furrow.

I thank our loving God for my daddy. I wish I could tell him how much I love him and how much I appreciate what he did for me. I believe he would be proud of me today.

Thanks, daddy, I love you very much.

Charles Towne is first and foremost a Christian. An octogenarian, author, journalist, wildlife photographer, naturalist, caregiver, and survivor, his life has been and continues to be, a never-ending adventure filled with possibilities never imagined. He has adopted the philosophy that to Live fully, laugh uproariously, love passionately, and learn like there is no tomorrow, is a formula for a long and joy-filled life.