A first…
…for The Inquiring Mind…a follow-up to an earlier post!
This is to the post just prior to this one, wishing Neil Enloe a happy birthday, and commenting on why he is a good friend, even a “hero”(albeit chosen very carefully).
After I had posted it, I knew how Neil would respond to it once he read it…and it didn’t take long for him to react! Predictably, he denied almost any resemblance to the person I described in the entry…and reminded me that all glory and praise should go to God, not him(a point in which he is absolutely right!).
This is another reason why I’m such a fan of Neil Enloe…not Neil Enloe, Courier…but just plain ol’ Neil Enloe…friend…and brother in Christ. Of all the people I know well, he is probably the least self-centered person I’ve seen(a trait that I would be better off to share more of).
When I try to point out to him that he is among the most talented people to ever make gospel music a career, he resolutely denies it! This despite the abundant evidence to back up my point. You know, many of the finest gospel singers, if you look far enough, are proud of the abilities that God gave them, and are not shy about demonstrating those talents when given the opportunity. It’s not that Neil is shy, but he is absolutely unimpressed at his own accomplishments. His sole concern is and remains how faithful he is to God, and everything else is secondary, if not irrelevant. To me this is true humility, not the “aw, shucks” pseudo-humility we see all around us just to impress us.
Neil told me once that the greatest compliment he could receive about his music and career with the Couriers is if someone would say to him, “You know, I didn’t even know you were there.” This is because getting earthly acclaim is unimportant(almost boring) to him…but people benefitting from his work is important to him,and his name doesn’t need to be shoved in our faces for that to happen. Would that I could ever become so humble about my own abilities or accomplishments.
See why he’s a role model for me?
Anyway, when I think of certain things I admire, my friends know that I am given to a certain degree of hyperbole and encomium in expressing my feelings. This is in part what I did in my birthday tribute to Neil, and by no means did I mean to exaggerate or to embarrass him.
I just wrote from the heart.
So, Neil…I’ll just say this to tie it all together…you are an inspiration and a role model to me, and a person who I admire greatly and respect just as much…but more than any of that…you are my friend…and for that, I thank God…who indeed deserves ALL the glory.
So that’s all I have to say on Neil Enloe for a while. But, Neil, I can’t promise that your name won’t pop in here again from time to time…fair enough?
OK…on to other topics for next time!
Posted on Jun 08, 2006 - 08:42 PM | [1]
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June 9th, 2006 at 7:07 am e
I couldn’t agree more.
I have counted Neil as one of my very closest friends for more than 25 years.
Our friendship started 38 years ago when he took the time, at a concert while another group was singing, to talk to a 17 year old teenager about music, electronics and advice for getting into Gospel music.
It wasn’t the token patter that one often gets from a major Gospel personality - rather - he was generally concerned about offering guidance to me, a teenager. He gave me advice on properly voicing chords on the piano and, learning I worked as a salesman for a major Ampex tape recorder dealership, he even picked my brain as to what the “new” Ampex cassette decks were capable of doing sound-wise, as he was eager to go from reel to reel soundtracks to cassettes - as soon as the technology would allow.
Several days later, I mailed him the latest literature and spec sheets - and a friendship had begun.
I have met and/or sung on stage with most of the major Gospel personalities over the years. I have never met anyone more humble and unassuming than Neil Enloe - nor more talented and gifted.
He and his wife (as well as his partners - The Couriers) have helped me immeasurably - and I can honestly say that I do not believe I would be involved in a profitable ministry today if it were not for Neil’s involvement in my life - as a teacher, a mentor, and a friend.
Thank you, Neil, for enriching my life in so many ways.