LEADERSHIP

  James David Cain Recently, I was privileged to deliver an eulogy at the funeral of James David Cain. Below are my remarks in their entirety.  (I cut most of my speech due to time. That’s what happens when you have too many preachers on stage.) I hope you enjoy these thoughts on a man who helped shape my life. …

There is one cardinal sin of the Pineywoods:   “Forgetting where you come from.”   Or to state it as a maxim: “Always remember where you came from.” Many of my friends have stayed in Dry Creek their entire lives. That’s a good thing. Some leave the nest and fly on to bigger and better things, but they shouldn’t forget (or …

    The Unoffended Life “The unoffended life is the best way to live.” What is the unoffendable life? It’s the mark of a person who doesn’t easily get bent out of shape. They don’t carry a chip on his or her shoulder. They let offenses roll off their back and choose to overlook slights, real or perceived. In the …

Thoughts on a Manly Handshake It’s an art every leader must master. Let’s delve into the cultural significance of the manly handshake, a unique aspect of our Louisiana Pineywoods region. Sometimes it’s called a manshake. A man-shake is firm instead of its opposite number, the dead fish/damp washrag handshake. Men in our area are judged by their handshake. It can …

An Obituary I’d Love to Have. One of the reasons I still receive a paper copy of The Town Talk is to read the well-written obituaries submitted by families. I was touched by the concluding sentence of the obit. of Judge Frank Alan Little, Jr in Sunday’s April 7, 2024 edition. “He often remarked that his wife, family, and friends …

  Know Those Who Serve You   I wrote this story for my Grandsons. I believe you’ll enjoy it, too.   “Do unto others as you’d have them do unto you.” -Jesus in Luke 6:31 ESV “You can tell a great deal about a man from how he treats those who serve him.”   His name was Raymond, and we …

  Visit our Creekbank YouTube Channel to view Curt reading “Outdoor Life.” Listen to an Audio Podcast of “Outdoor Life.”   Outdoor Living: Where is Your Prayer Tree? Years ago, I visited two of my sweetest friends, Phil and Trelvis Thomas. They lived north of Leesville on Mrs. Trelvis’ family homestead. After coffee, Mrs. Trelvis led me to a nearby …

  Curt’s rendition of “The Seed Tree” can be seen on our Creekbank YouTube channel. Our audio Podcast is also available at Spotify. The Seed Tree I’ve been studying this majestic Loblolly pine for over thirty years. It’s located along LA Hwy 113 after you cross the Calcasieu River and enter Louisiana’s No Man’s Land. It caught my eye because it …

What is “Courage under Fire?” Most people run away from trouble, while others run toward it: David: ”This is the Lord’s battle, and he will give you to us!” ”As Goliath moved closer to attack, David quickly ran out to meet him.“ * What is it in a man that causes some to run away, while others face it head …

    Resolve This week I’m thinking about the word “Resolve “ and its double first cousins, Grit, Determination and Perseverance. “Resolve: to act with determination, boldness, steadfastness, and faith.” Resolve: it’s a good word to have in our toolbox.

The Deer Hunter Tuesday, December 12, 2023 There are some people you fall in love with the first time you meet them. That was true of Chet, and it was also true of Michael. I first met Chet in early November when he approached a breakfast table of men. It was the first week of deer season. One of the …

A Mentor named Jay Miller   “I was born in a tiny Southern town. I grew up with my family and friends all around.” Something to Love Jason Isbell   I grew up in a rural community where I was fortunate to have a long line of mentors and role models.  Many of these relationships continued even into my adult …

A Remarkable Mentor named Fox Conner. You’ve probably never heard of Major General Fox Conner.  He had an outstanding career spanning the Spanish-American War through the post-World War I years. There are three names marking him as remarkable: Patton, Marshall, and Eisenhower. Fox Conner evidently had the skill of bonding with young officers as a mentor and friend. It started …

John Wooden’s Socks   “It isn’t what you do, but how you do it.”   -John Wooden   I was a college senior the year I met John Wooden in 1979. I was preparing to embark on my journey as a high school basketball coach. I traveled to Monroe, Louisiana to hear John Wooden speak at a coaching clinic. Wooden, who’d …