ODE TO DANNY (SOMEBODY)
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'Tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come ye back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'Tis I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
The “Corner” is eight days late this month. Couldn’t write it before. I can scarcely write it now. I would have written about anything else if my heart would allow me. Tired of mourning and missing but will one more time for Danny. The heart attack gave neither warning nor time for good-byes. Our Boozefighter brother Danny Branson (Somebody) died on the day we celebrate Christ’s birthday and we buried him on his own fifty-ninth birthday 12/29/05.
Tragedy makes us bitter or better. Danni Jilleen, his third and youngest child, was a barrel racing Rodeo Queen until the car wreck over eleven years ago. I don’t know what Danny’s faith and relationship to God was before the accident. It grew quickly. When told she would die he focused all the faith-relationship that he possessed against that fatal report. Danni lived but would be a vegetable, came the updated prognosis. Along with his praying mother and many other believers, Danny cried to God against this fate. After a time Danni Jilleen had a good mind but the brain damage prevents her from walking or controlling motor skills. Danny, a single dad, laid aside his life to care for his daughter similar to one would a baby. Danny went few places without Danni Jilleen for the next eleven years. People in Burleson Texas may not know his name but he was the guy who takes care of his daughter so tenderly. Tragedy made Danny better than the rest of us. We knew it and feared the result if faced with the same test.
Danny was a rare and unique man. He was a Christian Biker. Some are probably thinking, “I know many Christians who ride motorcycles”. I’m not talking about Christians who ride motorcycles. In Danny’s case, the descriptive nouns Christian and Biker stand-alone. He was an old school, straight up, hard core Biker who rode the 1949 Harley chopper, which he built in the 60’s. He loved the life, lived the code, and loved the Boozefighter M/C brotherhood. He walked honorably and gracefully in all biker circles. He was a true biker. At the same time, he loved his Lord Jesus Christ and conducted himself as a loyal son of God. Few walk that fine line successfully. Danny never thought of himself as a good enough Christian. Maybe thinking that you are disqualifies you. Those of us who were students of his compassion saw a living demonstration of what James meant when he wrote, “Religion that God our Father accepts is this: to look after the orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27 NIV).
On Danny’s birthday Church members in suits, cowboys in boots, leather attired bikers, little mother and large family, came by the hundreds to pay respect to this humble servant of God and people. As I looked from the speaker’s pulpit, I saw people whom Danny had been faithful to pray for at our weekly meeting of In The Wind Ministries. He was our most faithful attendee every week of our four-year existence. I’m certain he has prayed for some of you who read this now. Brother, you ran the race with faith, you kept the course with courage and conviction, and there is a crown of honor waiting. May God bless you as He has blessed us knowing you.
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
Last summer Danny made a ride to Boozefighter National Meting in California with some brothers. He rode his three-wheeler that he and Boozefighter Daniel Lehew (Three Wheel King) built many years ago. It was the first road trip in many years. He loved each day. Those of us, who loved him and road trips, are so thankful that he had that last ride. There are some pictures of the ride as well as other recent events.
DOING WHAT HE LOVED.
I welcome your response. Contact me at
Bikechaplain@hotmail.comKeep It Real
Pastor Irish Ed
In The Wind Ministries