Bubbas, Bubbettes and Other Amazing and Wonderful People

They never told me just how many different kinds of people we would be privileged to meet in the ministry. Keep in mind I grew up in Georgia. When I mention Georgia, most people who have never been there think of Atlanta, a great southern metropolitan city. Most have not heard of Moultrie, a small farming town in the southwestern region of Georgia. I grew up on a 75-acre farm that was then, and still is, a half mile off the main dirt road. As you might imagine, we lived a pretty sheltered life. Sunday mornings, Sunday nights and Wednesday nights were church times and our family was always there. We never argued that fact; it was just accepted. Although we often heard about drugs and such in high school, I never witnessed much of anything firsthand. We worked hard some seasons of the year, but others were laid back and fun. I had a pretty good childhood and a pretty good life since then as well.

It was after I entered the ministry that I began to value the wide variety of church members with whom we have crossed paths. For example, on one of our church picnics at a state park, one of our members came dressed in a "toga-like-outfit-like-you-would-imagine-Jesus-would-wear-in-his-sojourn-on-earth" kind of outfit. With his full beard, he did look a lot like Jesus as he walked among the crowd in this public park "ministering" to church members and "heathen" alike. It was a little unnerving to me as Pastor. Then there was the young couple who showed up believing he was a modern day Elijah prophesying there would be no rain in the continental USA the month of June that year. Sadly for him, it rained on our little town June 1st. He was genuinely disappointed and confused. Believe it or not, we think he truly was convinced of his proclamation. He submitted himself to our counsel and remained in our church for some time to come. We think he even grew spiritually.

Oh, back to growing up in Georgia. I understand I'm as much a Bubba as the next good old southern boy, so trust me, I know a Bubba when I see one. Once an otherwise nameless Bubba was introduced one day when our church staff was having breakfast at Cracker Barrel. As I walked up to the table upon my arrival, Bruce greeted me, "BUBBA!". The waiter walking by stopped and said, "Yes, may I help you?" Surprised, we read his name stitched on the front of his shirt, "Bubba".

It has been my privilege through the years to discover there are a variety of Bubbas in our little world and most of them seem to find their way into whatever church I happen to be a part of. There are southern bubbas, redneck bubbas, western bubbas, northern bubbas and even those I classify as just plain ole bubba bubbas; and please, let's not forget those precious bubbettes. I'll not take the time just now to describe the differences in these classes of bubbas, but trust me they exist.

We know and value some of the most wonderful bubbas and bubbettes in the world; people we call friends; bubbas like Robert, Ronnie, George, Donnie, Charles, Jeff, Mike, Dallis; bubbettes like Mary, Karen, Becky, Linda, Sue, Lisa, Jackie. This is just the short list of a long list of names I could note here. Some of these names are real; some are made up, but if yours is here, you probably know who you are.

Well, you get the picture, I hope. The name Bubba and Bubbette has somehow become a term of endearment for some of the best people in the world whom I still call friends. So don't be surprised if I greet you as Bubba! or Bubbette! It just means I like you.

They never told me in Bible College about Bubbas and Bubbettes!