The Blog of Todd Green

This week I had a blast from the past.

When I was 8 yrs old, one of my favorite television shows was Baa Baa Black Sheep. It was a show about the Black Sheep Squadron that flew in the South Pacific during World War II, led by Greg "Pappy" Boyington. I rarely missed an episode. Robert Conrad played Boyington the tough guy, always looking after his men and never backing down from a fight. Conrad made Boyington seem invincible. He would face the enemy and always prevail.

To an eight year old little boy "Baa, Baa Black Sheep" represented all things adventure.

This week while walking through Wal-Mart I found part of the first season of the TV show released on DVD. Wow. I have watched six or seven episodes so far. Almost thirty-years later I realize it really wasn't that good of a show, but the attraction to the adventure is still there.

The real life of Greg Boyington makes Robert Conrad look like a wanna-be. A legendary fighter pilot who ended up spending several years as a Japanese POW. After the war he was lauded as a war hero but he was broke and nearly destitute. He was a wrestling referee, worked at odd-jobs everywhere until Hollywood came knocking at his door. He would never look back. He died in 1988 and is buried in Arlington National cemetery.

When I picked up that DVD and was transported back in time nearly 30 years to my childhood I had a startling realization. I may be older, but my need for a hero still remains.

What is not to admire about an ace fighter pilot who said, "I could not respect a man who walked away from a fight where his flag was at stake."

Of course if you were able to talk to Greg Boyington about the whole hero business he would say, "Show me a hero and I will show you a bum."

posted by Todd @ 12:38 PM

A recent trip to the Zoo 

posted by Todd @ 6:28 PM

We have been on a hectic rollar-coaster for the past couple of weeks. We spent the past two weeks at our state youth camp for our church organization (where I serve as the youth secty/treas). Nestled in the weeks of camp was the major surgery my father-in-law went through (there was no cancer - but they still have no idea how to fix his problem. In-between the weeks of camp I was in service in my home church to do the music - and then I traveled the 90 minutes to my in-laws and preached in their pm service. After the final week of camp we traveled the 2 hours to the in-laws to take care of both of their services.

Oh, I almost forgot: add to that mix of confusion the fact that both of our cars have been broken down and we have had to borrow cars to get almost everywhere we need to go. Nice.

I don't this is a season of life thing, or even a test of my faith. I think that this constant barrage of circumstance is a trial of my patience. I have kept my focus.
I have absolute faith in God.

posted by Todd @ 5:49 PM