FIGHT ON!!!

It only takes one person who will not give up the fight they are PASSIONATE about to change the world!

Mrs. Epple and Honey Springs

In every battle there comes a time when both sides consider themselves beaten, then he who continues the attack wins.

- US Grant

There is power in just one voice. I have a patient named Phyllis Epple. At our last visit she started telling me a story about her and her father-in-law and a tiny battle that occurred during the Civil War. Twenty two miles south of Muskogee on highway 69 there is a small town called Rentiesville. Just outside of Rentiesville, there is a civil war battleground called Honey Springs.

The memories I have of Honey Springs is running a 5k there a number of years back. I do have a couple of funny stories about that 5k but I will save that for another day.

On July 17, 1863 a battle occurred at Honey Springs. It was the largest civil war confrontation in the territory that would become Oklahoma. It was a significant battle because this victory by the Union troops cleared the way for Union forces to capture Ft. Smith. And this would become a huge pathway to overall victory. The other greatly significant fact of Honey Springs is that this was the first battle where African American and Native American forces fought with the victorious Union forces and had a large impact on the outcome.

Every year towards the end of the summer, blues music artists and blues fans show up in Rentiesville in large numbers to this small town that is really nothing more than just a dot on the side of the road. It becomes the site of a huge Blues Festival. This occurs because Blues Legends D.C. and Selby Minor lived in Rentiesville and started this festival in 1991.

Honey Springs has been forgotten by most people other than civil war aficionados. There are few historic works outlining the battle of Honey Springs. But there was one man, who years ago, had a PASSION for the battle that occurred at Honey Springs. He did research on the battle of Honey Springs, studied the battle of Honey Springs and tirelessly recorded this history so that people would remember the battle. He wrote a paper and subsequently a book that outlined the battle, where it occurred, when it occurred and its significance.

But interestingly enough people were not interested in the story. He took the story to a number of people to get it published and not a single one was really interested in this recorded history of this battle. People told him if he had a history professor that would corroborate his story then they would publish and acknowledge his works. This mans name was Jess Epple Sr. Mr. Epple was passionate about this battle and he would not take "no" for an answer. He searched for a history professor that would back him.

Mr. Epple finally found a professor named Dr. Foster who sided with Mr. Epple and said he would agree to vouch for his history of this battle. Subsequently, the book was published. While Dr. Foster was alive he always gave credit to Mr. Epple for writing the book. However, since both Mr. Epple and Dr. Foster have passed, there is confusion over who actually wrote the book. Dr. Foster's sons began telling the story that their father wrote the book and Mr. Epple's son and his daughter-in-law told the story that Mr. Epple wrote the book.

Now whether or not Mr. Epple wrote this book or Dr. Foster wrote the book may not hold any significance to you or to me for that matter. And the truth of who wrote the book is NOT the essence of this story. But what really struck me about this story is that the daughter-in-law has decided that it was a battle that was worth fighting. She believed in her father-in-law enough and loved her father-in-law enough that she would not let this go. She wants the world to know about the battle of Honey Springs and she wants the world to know that the story and much that we know about Honey Springs was thanks to her father-in-law. So she has continued to crusade this cause over the years. It has become her PASSION. And when you talk to her about it, this passion is contagious.

Just recently they held a re-enactment of the battle of Honey Springs and she proudly told me they sold 18 copies of the book. She was so excited and said that was the most copies they had sold at one time. She continues to fight with the Oklahoma Historical Society to get them to acknowledge her father-in-law's part in writing this history. She is filled with passion for this book and for people knowing about her father-in-law.

I love to be around people that are passionate about something. Even if the thing they are passionate about doesn't interest me. The battle of Honey Springs really doesn't interest me much; however, I found myself researching the battle and it was simply because of the excitement of Mrs. Epple. I know more about Honey Springs now because of Mrs. Epple. But the true value lies in how her passion motivated and inspired me. Make no mistake I am NOT motivated by the battle of Honey Springs. But I am greatly inspired by the passion of this lady.

Passion breathes life into others and into your own heart. When you are passionate about something it gives you life it sparks your imagination it brings momentum into your life. And the beautiful thing about Passion is that it is contagious as well. As I sat and listened to her story I began to get excited. I could feel the fire burning in my heart. I immediately went and started writing down thoughts.

When you are passionate about something other people notice. They may not really have an interest in what you are passionate about but it sparks a Passion in their heart. And the truth is it only takes one voice to create Passion. Mrs. Epple told me something interesting as we finished our conversation that day. She said, " I am going to keep telling people. I'm going to keep using my voice to tell people the story even if people don't really want to hear". She also said that she has told the story time and time again to her 2 granddaughters and now her granddaughters themselves are passionate about this story. They've even talked about writing a movie script and working on trying to get a movie done about the battle of Honey Springs. Now let me make it clear, Honey Springs is not something that drives me to a passionate response. It does not motivate me. However, seeing how passionate Mrs. Epple was about it does drive me to action! Her passion motivates me, it inspires me.

So what are you passionate about? A life lived without Passion is a life lived without fire in your heart. In truth it's a life wasted. I believe we were created to be passionate about things in our life. To be passionate enough to tell people our story.

I am passionate about MOEO! I am passionate about making the Most Of Every Opportunity to reach the potential that God has placed in my life. And truly, even if no one listens, even if no one reads my blog, I'm still gonna tell my story! I'm still gonna let the Passion that God has put in my life burn brightly. Because it only takes ONE VOICE that refuses to be silent, to change the world!!

When you believe in your vision and have great passion for your mission, never let the weaker minds and feeble words of doubters stop your greatness!

What are you PASSIONATE about? Don't ignore it!!!