Ode to Uncle Joey

New Heights Men at New Heights Church
Message from: Alex Stuart

Hey Guys

My Uncle Joey died this morning. He was not really my Uncle by blood, but one of those guys that you grow so close to that you become family. Calling Uncle Joey a character would be like saying the SEC has had some decent football teams in recent years.

Our initial connection was duck hunting. I am a recovered Duckaholic and Uncle Joey helped feed my addiction in those years that I was under its influence.

One spiritual thing I learned during those years was that when you love something enough and are enthusiastic enough about it, other men want to join you. When I would repeat Uncle Joey and Cousin Robert and Mitch duck hunting stories, men would invariably tell me that they wanted to go with me next year.

Oh the stories. If you hunted with Uncle Joey, each trip was much more than getting a limit. It was a test of your manhood, your resources and how thick your skin was. Five beaver dams and innumerable stumps to get to the hole? Not even enough of a problem to register on the think about it meter. And oh my goodness, never, never admit physical discomfort. Uncle Joey could think of so many ways to ridicule a man who whined about physical discomfort that you just learned to suck it up and go.
No subject in your personal life was off limits either. Not making the grade at home or work, don’t worry, it will be discussed on the next duck hunt with improvement expected.

For all of his hard exterior, there was a noticeable soft side to Uncle Joey also. Like the time he saw some people driving a covered wagon pulled by mules down the shoulder of the 4 lane. Uncle Joey stopped and engaged them in a conversation that resulted in the mules and their owners spending two weeks camped out at Uncle Joey’s house. Or the fact if you didn’t call him or spend some time with him on a regular basis, he would act like he had forgotten your name the next time you did; just to show you his feelings were hurt.

For Uncle Joey, doing the right thing, especially by and with family, was not an option. I remember when his mom was dying, Uncle Joey had just retired from the Guard and was getting a bulldozer business going. He spent weeks sitting with his mom and watched the entire OJ Simpson trial in the process. He talked about that stupid trial until we thought we were going to have to tape his mouth shut. He could find more ways to make something fun than anyone else I have ever known. Always his first step was to not complain about the situation he was in. His attitude was you just do what you have to do and find something to enjoy about it at the time.

My wish for each of you men is that you get to experience a friend like Uncle Joey. Someone who pulls no punches when they don’t need to be pulled. Someone who challenges your manhood on a regular basis. Someone that you know loves you despite your obvious failings. Better yet, I hope and pray that you can be an Uncle Joey to other men. Lord knows we need some more of that.
Your Brother
Alex