AN ODE TO ZEKE

“Love my wife, love my baby, love my biscuits sopped in gravy, uh huh, you bet I do” To everyone in the tri state area those words are synonymous with one name only…. Zeke Mullins. A 51-year career in radio came to and end recently as Zeke hung up his headphones and turned off the microphone for the last time. I guess 86 years is a ripe old age to retire wouldn’t you say? What a blessing Zeke has been to this area with his down home wholesome radio shows that have touched millions. I practically grew up listening to him although he was certainly at it long before I came along and was able to tune a radio. He will always be a part of my childhood memories. Many a winter morning I waited anxiously to hear whether Zeke was going to call off school for us when snow blanketed our area. And when Zeke gave the word that class had been canceled it was going to be a good day for sure. Zeke’s boy Scotty played on the same little league team as I did a way back in my McDermott Little League days. I remember visiting their home once. Scotty had been sick I believe and we are taking him the game ball. I remember that they had a real live monkey in the garage someone had given Scotty. I thought at the time, this Zeke fella must be a pretty cool Dad! Then as the years passed by I recall being introduced to Lum & Abner as I would drive to work in the mornings as a young father raising a family and listening to Zeke’s show, he was still at it! Well thought of? You bet! A dying breed? Well maybe. Our old cornbread eatin buddy? You bet your gumboots! The times I have been privileged to meet and talk with Zeke have been a delight. He is warm, humble and genuine. So Zeke, thanks for how you have touched my life.
As I thought about Zeke and his retirement from radio I was drawn to a man in the scripture who was well thought of by his friends and neighbors. Nameless in Luke’s account we know him only as a certain centurion. Here’s his story… “Now when he had ended all his sayings in the audience of the people, he entered into Capernaum. And a certain centurion's servant, who was dear unto him, was sick, and ready to die. And when he heard of Jesus, he sent unto him the elders of the Jews, beseeching him that he would come and heal his servant. And when they came to Jesus, they besought him instantly, saying, That he was worthy for whom he should do this: For he loveth our nation, and he hath built us a synagogue. Then Jesus went with them. And when he was now not far from the house, the centurion sent friends to him, saying unto him, Lord, trouble not thyself: for I am not worthy that thou shouldest enter under my roof: Wherefore neither thought I myself worthy to come unto thee: but say in a word, and my servant shall be healed. For I also am a man set under authority, having under me soldiers, and I say unto one, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it. When Jesus heard these things, he marvelled at him, and turned him about, and said unto the people that followed him, I say unto you, I have not found so great faith, no, not in Israel. And they that were sent, returning to the house, found the servant whole that had been sick.” Someone has said that each person has three spectators of their life: how others see us, how we see ourselves, and how God sees us. Lets take a few lines and explore this centurion and who was observing his life and maybe take some time to look at ourselves.
First we notice how the people saw him. They had quite a high opinion of him. In verse four they told Jesus that this man was worthy of his help and even in verse five they revealed that they felt he loved their nation and even built them a place to worship. You know, the society and culture may not like our convictions or our faith as Christ followers, but they should never doubt our lives. What do people see in us? Secondly notice what he thought of himself. Did you hear him say that he wasn’t worthy for Jesus even to come to his house or to even approach him for that matter? Others had high opinions of him but he had humble opinions of himself. It is said of a restored monastery in Pennsylvania that all it’s doorways are low. Often, people touring the monastery bang their heads against the doorways. The guide points out that the low openings are to teach humility. Maybe we need our heads “banged” occasionally to teach us to be a little more humble. Lastly lets notice what Jesus thought of him. The scriptures go so far as to say that Jesus marveled at this man. Only two times does the bible tell us that Jesus marveled once at the unbelief of the Jews and here in this case involving this man. He saw that the centurion recognized that the one he was addressing was no ordinary person, and that he was acknowledging what he believed Jesus could do. Even before healing this mans servant Jesus would say that he had not seen this kind of faith in all of Israel. What others thought of him was important, what he thought of himself was inspiring, but what Jesus thought of him was thought provoking to be sure.
The smile in Zeke’s voice, the homespun humor and approachability, his warmness, always a part of what we will think of when his name comes up in a conversation. How will people remember me, or you for that matter? What’s that noise? Zeke will you tell Ro Ho to quiet down?