Showing up
August 31, 2009
People like Hank.
The man behind the cash register greeted me with a “Howdy” as I walked through the doors, each of which had been propped open by two twelve-packs of Budweiser. I nodded back and made my way toward the drink cooler in the rear of the store.
“BETTER ONES UP HERE,” shouted a voice.
I turned, and there beneath the mounted head of a deer sat an old man. His red suspenders clashed with his brown pants and blue shirt. He twisted in a vinyl chair and tapped his cane on the bin beside him.
“ICE MAKES ‘EM COLDER THAN THAT GOL’-DARNED ‘FRIDGERATOR CAN,” he shouted again.
“You got a point there,” I told him.
“HUH?”
“YOU GOT A POINT THERE.”
“AH,” he said and smiled.
I grabbed a Coke from the bin and swabbed the condensation with my T shirt, nodding once more. The old man wheezed and coughed a hunk of phlegm into his handkerchief.
I took a sip and paced the store, taking stock of the sardines and canned vegetables, both of which had expired three months prior.
A mother and her brood of three came in just then, all of whom got their own howdy from the cashier. The kids made a bee line for the magazine rack while mom paced the aisles in search of an elusive Something.
“Do you sell salt?” she said to the cashier.
“LAST AISLE, YOUNG LADY,” the old man said, pointing his cane to the opposite side of the store. She smiled a thank you, and he smiled a you’re welcome.
He wasn’t done, either. In the next fifteen minutes, the old man had noticed the keys a customer had dropped, reminded another that his headlights were on, and squished a rather nasty cockroach.
“You have a pretty good helper over there,” I told the cashier as I paid.
He smiled and said, “Yeah, Hank’s been around forever. Used to own the place until he started getting sick.”
As if on cue, Hank began hacking again.
“So he still comes around?” I asked.
“Yep,” he said as he offered my change. “He’s deaf, weak, and the doc told him last month all those non-filter Camels have eaten his lungs up. But he still shows up every day wanting to help out and do somethin’.”
I shoved the change into my pocket and looked at Hank, who had made himself busy by using his cane to scrap half of the dead cockroach from the bottom of his boot.
I had to smile at the sight. Though I knew nothing of the man, it seemed so utterly Hank.
That a simple man in a no-name gas station on a summer afternoon could teach me something was a little unexpected, but then again there are lessons to be learned in most anything. Especially in the sight of an old man clinging to what little life he had left.
Strip away theology’s pretense and philosophy’s theories and we are faced with this one basic question when it comes to the conduct of our lives—what does God expect from us each day?
Over the years I had come up with many possible answers—to love Him and others, to do our best to leave the day a little better than we’ve found it, and so on. But after watching Hank, I knew the real answer to that question.
What does God expect from us each day? Simple.
To show up.
We can give God our hearts and our desires, give Him our minds and our talents, but if we don’t give Him our time, those things just don’t matter.
Poor Hank could have spent his last remaining days at home watching HGTV, but he didn’t. He still showed up in that little gas station every day willing to do whatever he could to help despite his weaknesses and infirmities. I think we should do the same.
Because no matter how wounded we are, no matter how broken and beaten, we can always do something to help. We can always make a difference.
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40 Responses to “Showing up”
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I’m a writer whose first novel, Snow Day, will be published by FaithWords in 2010.
But don’t let that fool you. I’m just as confused as anyone.
And that is fine with me, because the great thing about wandering around in the fog is that you never know what you might run into.
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You have a gift for painting a picture with words. We do know how to complicate the simple in life…another great post!
This was a blessing to read…..it's so true on how we get so wrapped up in the busyness of life. I hope I have displayed a fraction of "Hank" in me to others and more importantly to God…..and I am gonna work on doing even more now.
peace~
Amen, amen.
Hank gives us a wonderful example to follow! Awesome, Billy!
Amen.
Larry E.
Reading your post about Hank reminded me of Samuel sleeping in the tabernacle and giving the answer Eli told him to: Lord, here am I.
AMEN and AMEN!
Do all things without complaining and disputing…
Too many of us find a way to get around the word "all" in life. It just isn't comfortable so why listen to and forget about living by it…YET God takes this three letter word very seriously.
Don't just show up – count it ALL joy.
Blessings and love,
Jill
Ah, Billy. What excellence you've painted today of something so simple and so vital to a full and rich life.
The Lord is surely smiling. I pray you feel His pleasure.
Continuing to "show up."
Blessings, andrea
Great story! I could practically see Hank.
And I agree, God can do a lot through someone with a willing heart who just shows up.
Thanks for writing this!
Now normally I don't enjoy stories that tell of phlegm and cockroaches, however, this one…
I love it.
"Just show up".
Thanks.
Awesome, Billy!
So true. Thank you, Billy!
So many "Hanks" with so little time. Thank you once again, Billy.
I always loved your ability to show not tell, until the guy coughed up the phlegm. Not so much right now.
Keep showing up – got it.
Thank you. I needed to hear that in the worse way. I'm here now and my time is all His. =)
Billy,
This is so true! People seem to live their lives as if they are rushing towards retirement. Yet it is interesting that so many never make it that far. Some die before they get there and others, once racing to the finish line, realize that it's not so fun after all.
Perhaps life is meant to be enjoyed each day as it comes and let the rest take care of itself.
Love and Hugs ~ Kat
"Just show up."
Yep. I tell myself that is one thing I can do. Esp. on days like today.
Good one, Billy!
With tears in my eyes, I say "Amen, brother." That was phenomenal storytelling.
Wow. Some days showing up is all we can do. Glad to know that even just that can be inspiring…
One of my favorites, Billy. I agree with Kelly Combs. You do have the uncanny ability to "show not tell". I paint with brushes, you paint with words. (Wow, look at me getting all metaphorical and whatnot…)
I loved this…
Thanks. It spoke to my heart. Thanks for "showing up" and writing today. God used you.
Great story and great reminder.
I did have to laugh though at the progression of these sentences, "The old man wheezed and coughed a hunk of phlegm into his handkerchief.
I took a sip and paced the store…" What I pictured is still making me chuckle (and a little disgusted). Thanks Billy for both the inadvertent and on-purpose joy you bring.
Good 'un, Billy. You do have a gift with words. Is that why you're going to be famous? Seriously, love the last part of this post about "no matter how broken . . . " Amen! And don't wait until you're fixed!
Having grown up in a family that tends to not show up, this hits home. And I fight the tendency to crawl in my little shell and not show up, each and every day. So far, with God's help, I've shown up.
I agree with Joyce. You do have a gift of painting a picture with words.
Now … when does that darn book of yours come out?
~Brenda
Wow Billy…I felt like I was there with you (thankfully I didn't have to see the cockroach in person). Wow…just 'show up'…what a concept!
I love learning from ALL you share!
What a great lesson to learn…to show up!
Thanks, Billy, for keeping it real. I learn a lot from you!
This was a great story…well, all except the phlegm part! :p
More people need to be like Hank!
Great entry.
I loved this post…your words have a way of making me feel right at home.
Thank you for the simple yet profound encouragement. One thing I realize just now is that I love you writing and ponderings because you challenge me. Thank you for that and more. I loved your post yesterday too, just did not manage to leave a comment…the photo of your son said a lot.
God bless Hank – glad You showed up to introduce us to him.
Though I knew nothing of the man, it seemed so utterly Hank.
perfect line!
Woody Allen said "80% of success is showing up," and I think as you say, with God, 100% of success in life is just showing up. Poignant, but a little too obvious for most of us to register.
I'm a day late… but showed up (finally).
I'm definitely having a hard time 'showing up' for some things lately…
Hey Billy, it's been awhile, I missed reading your posts while I was out of town.
"To show up"…I like that, we show up He guides the way. I'll bet Hank does not sit in His bed in the morning trying to figure out what He might do that day either, He shows up, and lives in the moment. Thanks for this post Billy, I want to live my life showing up and trusting God to lead the way.
Boo-yah. Another great Coffey original.
Glad you showed up on the scene there, Billy. Thanks for sharing it with us. It's always a joy to see people through your eyes. You *see* people.
Yep, because God always shows up. I'm afraid I've stood him up too many times to count.
As I always say, you are so talented. Hey, I think I've been to that store (ha).
Your heart is beautiful and it always shines through your writing.
Just show up. Yup. What an example Hank is. And you.
I'm late, but I loved it! Thanks for something to think about. Always seems like your posts are right in line with something God's already been talking to me about.
Confirmation received. Now I guess I better, well, show up.
Thanks, Billy. Love how you bring us face to face up close with the things that matter in life.
Lord bless you!