He Drove His Tractor

He couldn’t see ten feet in front of him.

(Photo from published obituary and artistically altered by A Divine)

That’s what we always say down here in the South when someone’s vision is impaired.

In this case, I’m not sure exactly how far he could see but I suspect it can’t be measured by feet.

The Bible says, “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to do it.” That’s Proverbs 3:27.

It’s rarely in my power to do anyone any good at all as far as I can tell, but some years ago I had a recurring opportunity, and I took it whether I needed to or not.

A man I knew — not as much as I know some people or as little as I know others — was nearly blind, at least as far as driving was concerned, and he and I both knew it well.

For the sake of this story, I’m going to call him Shorty.

I’m really calling him that because it was his name, and nothing else would fit him anyway.

I can’t say what Shorty was like his whole life, although as circumstances would have it, I know more now than I did then and we’ll get to that later.