Bedlam Bend Connections

          Most people in the Bend are probably siding with either the Sooners or the Cowboys as Bedlam rolls around.  But there is a little one with Bend ties who knows a Bedlam coach. As Dad would say, “If that little man walked in the room, Mike Gundy would recognize him.”

          Here’s how the grandson of our neighbors, Greg and Vonda Goad, developed a friendship with Mike Gundy. Harrison, their grandson, attended most of the Stillwater High School’s home football games. His uncle, Tucker Barnard, coaches the varsity football team of Stillwater High School. Gunnar Gundy leads the charge for Coach Barnard’s Stillwater Pioneers. Gunnar Gundy is the one of the sons of Mike Gundy, the head coach of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Coach Gundy and Harrison

Recently, Greg let Harrison
open the gate when checking
cattle. Harrison waited until
his grandpa drove through
and promptly shut the gate.
As he climbed into the pickup,
he turned to Greg and spoke
with utmost sincerity, "Baboo,
Thank you for letting me open
the gate."  
 Oh that we would respond with
such gratitude to the tasks God
gives us to do!
(Baboo or Babu is a term of 
respect from the Hindi 
language.)

          Harrison, his little sister and his parents, Suni and Mark Carter enjoyed preferred seating with his maternal grandma, Denta Carter and his aunt, McKale Carter Barnard. Harrison’s outgoing personality compelled him to greet the man sporting the mullet. As a result of his first meeting, Harrison made a friend. During some home games, Harrison and Mike Gundy spent a little time visiting.

          Harrison’s actions during high school football season stands as an example of what Jesus meant when He said, “Become as children.” Children have a trusting nature. Harrison didn’t have to “size-up” Coach Gundy before deciding to talk with him.

Young children are seldom respecters of persons. Harrison had no idea the resume of Coach Gundy. He just wanted to be friendly. Proverbs 18:24 says “A man who has friends must himself be friendly…”

Jesus included in one of his prayers recorded in the New Testament the need for adults to be like children in order to understand and enter into a relationship with God.

“Father, You are Lord of heaven and earth. I thank You because You have hidden these things from people who are wise and know many things. But You have shown them to people who are like children.” Matthew 11:25

Jesus continued thanking His Father for revealing God’s multi-faceted nature to the world through Christ’s life. He then issued one of the most compelling invitations in scripture.

“Come unto me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Matthew 11:28

In the next couple of verses, Jesus requested tenderly for those who “come” to Him to “yoke up” with Him in service and in turn, “find rest for your souls.”

A few years ago, another young one with Big Bend connections illustrated the request of Jesus to “yoke up” with Him. The little-four-year-old anticipated with great joy every Big Bend visit to his “Grand Pere” as he referred to Hubert Hutchens, his great-grandfather. He loved laboring alongside his much-loved “Grand Pere.” Charlotte, Hube’s wife, said their little great-grandson, Damien, insisted on shadowing Hubert one entire late summer weekend. The little guy stayed right beside Hube as he fed the animals and even gathered prickly okra from the garden with him. Being in Hubert’s presence and working right next to him was this young one’s only desire.

Imitation of these children is necessary if we truly follow Jesus. As we recall the actions of these precious little ones with Bend ties, may we remember the words of Jesus immediately after He had taken little children in His arms and blessed them.  

“Assuredly, I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will by no means enter it.” Mark 10:15

Notes

• Tucker Barnard descends from J.I. and Nora Womack who lived in the Bend in the 1930s and 1940s.
• Suni (Goad) Carter descends from Otis and Lucille (Rice) Goad, lifelong Benders.
• Denta Wayman Carter and her children mentioned in this post, McKale (Carter) Barnard and Mark Carter descend from Sidney and Laura Armstrong, who lived in the Bend during the 1930s and 1940s