Family History #1

Why Mike Didn't Become a Preacher

Last week Toby called me from Israel and asked why Uncle Mike had not become a preacher. This question was spurred by a conversation with a friend about my status as a preacher. Toby told his friend the story that Dad told me years after it happened.

Uncle Mike was going to be the preacher of the family. Mike had been speaking in churches since around the age of 15. He filled in at various churches around Corinth, Kentucky and spoke at youth rallies. We moved to Louisville and Mike continued to speak at various functions. One of those years when I was in early High School, we were attending the College of the Scriptures church camp at Wonder Valley camp in Indiana. An old Negro preacher (around 90 years of age) Isaiah Moore, who had been preaching since he was a kid….looked over at a crowd of people that included Mike and myself and said to Dad, (pointing at Mike) “that’s not going to be your preacher, (and pointing over to me) that’s going to be your preacher.” How he knew, I don’t know. Anyway that’s the story that Toby related to his friend in Israel. So thus the question, “why didn’t Uncle Mike become a preacher?”

Some of you may not know that as Mike was choosing colleges….Cincinnati Bible College was high on his list. He was going to be a preacher. But the University of Louisville came calling and everyone was thrilled for this opportunity. Mike was known as “preacher” on the team and in the media. He was the Youth Minister of Clifton Christian Church during his time at U of L. I gave Toby my answers and then I called Mom to confirm my thoughts. She added a very important component to the answer. Here are the three answers. The first two are both very important and the third reason is a part of the Lawhon family history that effected us in a variety of ways.

First, Sherry. She was Mike’s love…a Uof L cheerleader. She was not going to be a preacher’s wife and with all the talk in the media…she was scared. So she broke up with Mike. This was a major event in Mike’s life….being a preacher had cost him big time. I can tell you from experience that this plays with your mind. I know there were girls who wouldn’t give me the time of day because I was going to be a preacher. (at least I can fool myself with that illusion) After all, what parent would want their daughter subjected to the expectations of the church.

Second, Bob Dabney. This reason may be more important than the first, but the first one set the stage for this event. Mike was playing softball for Southeast Christian Church against another Southeast team. Southeast was “extreme” when it came to softball. Mike was on first base…Bob Dabney was playing shortshop….ground ball to second base….Mike went into second to take out the shortshop and Bob Dabney threw very low to force Mike down. The ball hit Mike square in the face and crushed his cheekbone. I am certain (knowing Bob Dabney) that he did it on purpose—but as the Bible says “All things work for the good of those who are in Christ Jesus.” Mike’s face had to be pieced back together. The hospital became the place where Mike decided that medicine was the path he wanted to follow. Mike being very likeable and a star at U of L was treated as royalty by the hospital He made rounds with the doctors and he was hooked. He was fascinated by the way they had put his face back together.

Third, being poor. This was certainly not the biggest factor, but has to make the list. We grew up while Dad when to college and then he took a church living on $25 a week living in a parsonage that we thought was a mansion (my living room is bigger)--- we were poor…and Mike seemed to be more effected by it ---more so that Cary or me. Though we never went hungry, we felt the difference between us and other people. Mike saw that becoming a Dr. was a way that he could provide for his parents and not live “without”. While at U of L, Mike came home with a saying for the family. “If you’re going to go, go first class, or don’t go at all.” And we all picked up on this as we moved from a “poor” (a relative term of course) mentality to a family that didn’t live in West Virginia anymore. I think it’s hard for my kids and nieces and nephews to understand this because though you may think you have grown up “poor” (poor being a very relative term)--- All of you have grown up with so many more opportunities.

Should Mike have become a preacher? I think not! He provided for his parents…financially, and in the medical field. Plus, he was a great Dr, combining a bedside manner with the skills of a surgeon. When Mom speaks of Mike and his life, she sees that little boy and teenager as the boy with a kind heart that sought to love and be loved. I think she’s right!

Sometimes we see the person at the end and we don’t know what they had been before the years robbed them of their health or of their optimism and idealism.
This little bit of family history is from my perspective and hopefully gives you some insight into Mike and his life.