In my mind, I have been trying to be positive about life. It is becoming harder and harder for me to ignore my limits and push forward to complete this race. One thing that I know for sure is that races end. I want to do my very best and you should, too. Two men that I know recently finished their races, and I am very proud to have known them both. This blog is about Mr. William Butch Burns.
Butch the Baptist married my sister about ten years ago. He came into her life after she lost her first husband, who died tragically at the age of 49 of a massive heart attack. We all still grieve his absence but also believe in an eternity with God. Butch had big shoes to fill.
Judy is the sister that is just good from her head to her toes. Her heart is so full of love and trust. She is an honorable woman who has high virtues. I compare her to Rachel in the Bible. She would be worth fourteen years of labor to gain her hand. As the Bible reads that a good woman is priceless, and she is.
Butch was coming from a divorce and searching for a new direction in his life. Was his life clear without transgressions and sins? Is anyone’s? He had made bad choices and was able to see the effects of those choices. His Baptist roots were urging him to tell his transformation after rededicating his life, again. Students, it is so hard to follow the path of the Cross.
So it began. They were dating and Judy had laughter and light in her eyes again. After she had been dating him a while she called me hysterical from work and asked if I could drive her to Nashville. Butch had been airlifted with a potential heart attack. I drove like a Nascar driver. It seemed to go by in the blink of an eye. It was God’s speed indeed. He was on a stretcher and she fell across his crying, thanking God, and begging Butch to not leave her. He said, “Judy, will you marry me? God is calling me to preach. “
Their season together began. He loved her like no other wife because he knew that Judy was a virtuous, God-fearing woman. He had failed at marriage before, but this time, God drove their hearts. He worked so very hard on his sermons. He put everything into being a good preacher and serving God. I was impressed. Judy told me that he worried that he felt lesser than the other Baptist preachers because of lack of “book learning.” He was a simple boy from the Finley bottoms. School was not his favorite past time activity, but fishing was! In the secular world, he was a successful businessman. He was a talented, self-taught mechanic. He lived in expensive homes and had the best of material possessions. Then he would stumble. The beauty of his life was that he continued to listen for God. He would get up and try again. Many Saints for the Christian faith have been totally illiterate. God reads hearts and knows who can lead, not diplomas. I regret not telling him that. Was this season worry free? Absolutely not, but God was always in the center of their lives.
Butch lived a colorful life. It may have begun with fast cars and wild living but as he would tell you God literally washed him clean. Butch loved to fish and loved having fish frys. His favorite catch wasn’t crappies but men. He had baptisms lined up to do lying on his deathbed. He was always after me to become Baptist because I am a Catholic Christian. We both dedicated our minds, hearts, and souls to God. The Trinity is our key to eternity. It was the beginning of October when his physical pain slowed him down. He was frantically working on an old shop for his prodigal son. I think he knew that his earthly time was ending. He was so grateful that his Savior never gave up on him. Desperate to leave his loved ones a gift of his love, not realizing he already did when he began that walk with Christ showing them how to go and sin no longer. He was welcomed home by our Savior before the end of October. As I rolled by his casket, I said, “ I’ll see you soon, Brother Butch the Baptist.”
Sarah Anderson Alley
Sal the Catholic Sister Gal
Quote of the Day
Ye do the catching and Jesus will do the cleaning.
Unknown
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