I've lived a bunch of different lives so far and the next one is being born now.
Growing up in Port Wentworth was a wonderful thing. Riding cardboard boxes down the bank of the viaduct, being part of a fleet of bicycles to Mr. Cowart's Drug Store, stealing all of the flags from the Elementary School, playing army in the woods, and having my first kiss in an empty baptismal pool in the First Baptist Church listening to Tommy James and the Shondells (because the church was always unlocked and had a really good sound system).
In High School I became someone else ... A long haired football player who really wanted to play guitar. It seemed that I started to get in trouble a lot while getting affirmed for the things that I was getting in trouble about at the same time. It lead to a conclusion that trouble leads to affirmation.
Where do I begin?
I danced with a black girl at a segregated dance and was beaten up by the white guys the next day (thank you Gene Prevatt for trying to help that day). Afterwards, I was an honorary member of the black community, no small feat in Garden City Georgia in those days.
At college I fell into this group of crazy people who were all Baptist (we all still gather today for reunion tours and I'm sure the Public Broadcasting System will do a show on us soon for one of their fundraisers before we all die. Mitch Wesley will be the surprised guest.). I still had long hair, played football for the Baptist Student Union, occasionally went to class because I also played guitar, and learned about birth control. Jeremy was born and changed everything about everything.
When college threw me out, God "called me" to go to Seminary ... meaning Guy Sayles called me one night and asked me to come. So I did. Then everything really started going crazy!
I became Pastor of an inner city church, found fame and groupies, learned that I still didn't know anything about birth control and Kristen was born and stole my heart. I learned to love the underworld of homelessness, hookers, addicts, and the people thrown away by everybody else. I became part of this crazy radical community sprinkled throughout the US ... Jim Lowder, A.B. Short, Will D. Campbell, Ken Sehested, Bill Bowling, Cindy Weber and ... most of all Father Vernon Robertson.
So when the Baptist threw me out, Jimmy Buffett called me home.
We moved to Tybee Island which remains home. While I've imagined leaving, I've never really been able too. On island, I've become a Beach Bum who's also juggled a nutty career that has taken me around the world. Chelsea was born here reminding me that I still don't know anything about birth control but ... her heart is filled with sand just like mine and we've logged more hours in the sun together than anybody.
Then the kids all moved into their lives and left me here with this one. We all remain incredibly tight in a non-controlled sort of way but then again ... they were raised to not believe in control.
Afterwards, everything about the way I lived changed and I became a full time Beach Bum. I'm not sure that I ever want to leave it, though I am doing interesting stuff here and there while not really understanding what I'm doing at all. Yet after spending a couple of years with a dog in an empty house ... life is changing again.
Sarah came home and brought home back with her. She also brought three little girls. According to Jeremy, we're becoming the Brady Bunch. That alright ... my life would make a pretty interesting television show anyway. Sure, there are some things that I would do differently if I had the chance, but I wouldn't change anything.
So the sun's up and Chelsea's waiting for me at the Breakfast Club. Sam's studying for something. Chels and I are not certain about Kristen who has never seen the sun actually rise. Jeremy's traveling to Valdosta for Marie's birthday. Three little girls are re-arranging the house.
But you know what?
The sun is blazing, the air is warm and I'm barefoot.
Those other lives were great.
Ah ... but this one!
It's time to dive in.
Close your eyes and hear the splash.
