Autry Thompson
Vicki and I met Autry and his wife Linda at church in the late 70’s in Houston. We were a young couple with two little girls. Vicki and I have often noted, that of all the people we’ve ever met, the single funniest person we’ve ever known is Autry Thompson. Still today, if we happen to run across someone from Houston that knew Autry, they will start laughing when they talk about him.
Autry had the lanky build of a Texas cowboy, and spoke with a very pleasant Texas drawl. Autry wasn’t one of those that gets laughs by being loud and obnoxious, he just always had a natural gift for making people smile.
When we’d go to a restaurant with him, it wasn’t uncommon that the waiters and waitresses were bringing other restaurant employees over to meet him, and people at the surrounding tables were laughing and introducing themselves.
Autry was not just a comic; he was a committed Christian businessman, known for being honest and open in dealing with others. In fact, he’s the least pretentious person I’ve ever known. Autry wasn’t a guy that had a “church” face, and a different face elsewhere. He was who he was, open about his own shortcomings and not afraid to confront you about yours.
He was a generous and a compassionate person. I know of instances, where a subcontractor he was using would fall on hard times, and Autry would take part of his own job profits and help the guy out.
He was active and well known in our church. Even after leaving Houston, anytime I felt down and discouraged, one of the people I always wanted to call- was Autry. By the time I hung up the phone, I always felt better. Autry was a unique person.
One day we got word that Autry had been diagnosed with stomach cancer. I called him up and while he was pretty blunt in his assessment of the condition, he still had the chuckle in his voice, and could see humor in just about everything that had happened.
As is sometimes the case with cancer patients, Autry would get good news, and we’d all get encouraged, followed by crushing test results the next visit. As time passed, I could hear his voice getting weaker. Once, when hanging up the phone, trying to encourage him, I said “Autry, don’t give up man, fight this, keep trying.”
In a very weak voice he said “Eddie, I am trying, but it’s so discouraging. I try and try, but it seems no matter how much I try, I just cannot get Linda pregnant.” ( I believe Autry was 64 at that time.)
He got worse and worse, and in one of the last conversations we had, I took the opportunity to tell him how much he meant to me, and how he’d been adding value to my life for over 30 years.
One morning not long after that, just before Christmas, Vicki came upstairs crying, to tell me that our dear and valued friend Autry, had passed away.
We who claim the name of Christ, who claim to have a personal relationship with God through Jesus, spend much of our time talking about the fullness of a life with Christ; about the joy of knowing Him. And all of that is true.
But there are times in every believer’s life when what we say we believe, comes up against the cold hard granite of a very unpleasant reality. Things that shatter, and leave us helpless. And the question that comes up is, “is this real?” Is the One in whom I placed my trust when things were OK, sufficient, now that they aren’t?
That question has been faced by believers for centuries, and the testimony of millions is, “yes He is. Even when I can’t see the light at the end of this tunnel- He’s sufficient…. and I’m secure.” That’s what the Bible calls the “peace of God.”
Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
From the book of Philippians, Chapter 4, verses 6 and 7