Moonshiners

I have managed to find humor in odd places. My wife’s family roots are from Good Water Alabama. When we were dating we visited her grandparents one weekend and attended the town festival. (Equivalent to the Deer Festival).

While walking around the festival I noticed several nice cars with built motors. It was literally Redneck heaven, classic cars with great exhaust sounds. I noticed that older men drove each and I said something to my father-n-law about it. He informed me, “they are ridge runners.” Yes that’s right, “Moonshiners.”

I then learned a lot about the Brooks family and their past dealings in the shine business. I still had a hard time believing that in 1982 people were making and selling shine.

In the early 90’s I was preaching revival services in Sylacauga, Ala., and was staying in Talladega that week. I came in one night after the services and turned the news on and the leading story was about a major moonshine bust in the area. I would file these stories back in my memory because I just felt like someday I would use them.

Whenever we visited family I was always amazed at the good ole redneck, Dukes of Hazard mentality. We were attending a reunion and I found out that I was not married to Deborah Brooks, but it was “Deborah Kay Brooks.”

As we walked in the room I overheard a lady with a southern country voice as she said, “There’s Deborah Kay and she’s married to a preacher.” That was the only reunion they ever let me pray at. It was later said that I preached a sermon instead of praying.

Some of the relatives were rough with language and actions. Uncle Wesley had one of the filthiest mouths of all, yet he was one of the friendliest and most humorous as well. In the mid 90’s he died and I was asked to come and do the funeral. The funeral home was in an old house that had probably been built in the 1800’s.

When Deborah Kay and I walked in the door we noticed a room full of people smoking. This was the smoking area! (A lot of them were smoking hand rolled Prince Albert’s) To the right of that room was the viewing room where Uncle Wesley lay. The smoke had bellowed out of the room and formed a cloud over the casket. I said that was probably the only Halo that had ever been over him.

We then met Bubba the funeral director. He was wearing a navy blue knit leisure suit from the 70s with baby blue darts on it. He greeted us with, “Hey Yall.” He instructed me to go onto the little country church and wait for the procession.

I was standing in front as the procession pulled up, being led by a 1974 black Cadillac hearse. As it pulled up I noticed it had dual exhaust glass packs that sounded off beautifully. Immediately my mind went back to that fall festival and I thought, “They probably run shine inside a casket when they don’t have a funeral.” A smile came on my face as once again I found humor in an unusual place.

Let me challenge you today to remember three things.

1. Live – live life to its fullest, enjoying it as you go. Honor Christ with your life.

2. Laugh – look for humor and laugh. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself.

3. Love – love others with words and actions.