THE GENERAL

I hope, as you spend these few minutes here with me that you’ll get to know the people that had an impact on my life. Some of them, you may love. Others, you may not like at all. Providing I’ve mentioned them, they were important to me. So, I beg your indulgence.

Ocie was my mother. She was a beautiful young woman, I’m told, and some say the most beautiful in the county where she lived. Now, one thing you must know about Ocie. She was an Officer in the Army of Jesus. Not a soldier, or a follower, but an officer. When she got her commission, I’m not sure. She said the Holy Ghost came on her while working in the cotton field. She said He came upon her sudden like, took a hold of her, and shook her right good. She then began to run up and down the rows like a mad woman. Some of the folks working there with her thought she had taken leave of her senses. Well, when her and the Lord got that all straightened out, He commissioned her. With my father, she frequently pulled rank, advising him that she was on the side of good and the Holy Ghost. She told him it would serve us all well, if we’d listen to her. When she was working for the Lord this little blue light would come in her eyes. When we saw that we knew she was working under divine orders straight from God. Very few people I ever knew dared question her authority.

Ocie, as a young officer, was quite arrogant at times and didn’t have a great deal of patience with the Church of Christ or the Catholics. She was serving in the Southern Baptist part of the army. She became more mellow as she rose up through the ranks. God gave her a number of very difficult assignments and, over time, she became a great general.

In her later years, she lay in bed unable to move. She was a dried up squeak of her former self, but there was an air of dignity and a commanding presence about her that left no doubt in anyone’s mind that she was no ordinary person. People, that never knew her, entered her room to feel the Spirit of God and to seek counsel from one who had led great battles against the Prince of Darkness. There was a certain peace and quietness that permeated the room where she lay. All intolerance and arrogance had long since vanished. Love for all people and religions filled her soul. I don’t know anyone who didn’t experience a feeling of great joy after visiting with her.

One dear soul was sent by the Holy Spirit to visit the General in the nursing home where she resided. Now, she didn’t know her and looked up and down the hall for the room number she had been given. Due to remodeling, she was unable to locate her. She thought that perhaps she misunderstood the message and had decided to leave. On an impulse, she went to the newly constructed area. There she found the room. She gently pushed the door open and saw the General lying regally upon her bed. She slowly approached her.

“Ocie?”

“Yes,” answered the General and turned her unseeing eyes toward the sound of the voice.

“The Lord has sent me to comfort you.”

“Oh, do come in my child. I’ve been expecting you,” she said and reached out her hand.

I’ve known many women in my life, but none that had the strength and the authority of the General, Ocie. When I was born, I was connected to her by two umbilical cords. One was a physical one, and the other was quite invisible. The physical one, the doctor cut. He did a nice job, as I’ve been told I’ve a rather attractive belly button. The other one, now in here lies the problem. I started trying to loosen it as soon as I could walk. It was attached securely around my neck and impossible to cast off. I rebelled and I struggled. I smoked. I drank. I chased girls. I drove fast. I cursed. I disobeyed. I flunked classes. I quit school. I did all manners of things to rid myself of that darn thing, but nothing seemed to work.