The Man With More Than A Book
Tim Eubank - May 20, 2026 - Modocs. By Lorynn Hunt.
I spent the afternoon, Wednesday, sitting outside of Modoc’s enjoying a cup of coffee and working on a new poem. I have been wanting to do this for a while now, work in a café, but haven’t really had a chance to do so until yesterday. I can understand why other writers enjoy this sort of thing, half to get out of the house and half to people watch. In-between sips of coffee, flares of wind lifting my notebook paper, and friendly smiles as others walked in or out the door; I would write a line or two of a verse. There was a lightness to mind my mind, and as cheesy as it may sound, to my pen as well. Now I haven’t finished the poem went but when I do I shall share it with you.
This was the sort of moment where I realized just how simple it was to be involved with my community. You wouldn’t believe what five dollars and an hour of just sitting truly done. After deciding I have stayed my welcome far enough I began to pack up, but after walking around the block a couple times I just didn’t feel like I was done. I had about 2 hours to kill before I had to be back in town to run an errand, and as much as I have told myself that I would carry my camera with me, for some reason, I didn’t that day. I decided to run back and grab my camera to come back in and take some photographs.
I loaded up my brand new, well new to me, Mamiya RB67. This camera is a 120, medium format, film camera that I had got this past winter. I have been wanting to shoot with it for a while but I had to learn how to really use it. I loaded up 400 TX, black and white film, and took it out on its very first adventure. Most of the time I will still drag my Sony A7iii out as well simple because it takes me quite a long time to actually finish a roll of film. What I have also found out is that it comes in handy for the moments when someone presents themselves for a portrait, like it did this day.
After spending another hour or so just walking around and looking for a photograph that I wanted, I once again passed by Modoc’s. The door was propped open as it was when I was sitting there but it was different inside, quite, not quite empty, but relaxed. The main morning crowd had subsided, the afternoon lunch break business was done, and left a tone of small town lawl. The stone floor’s deep tone, highlighted by the defused light of the cloudy day filling the windows was a beautiful detail but it wasn’t what truly caught my eye. It seems as though, looking back now, everything lead me to this moment. I was meant to meet the man in a “Team Jesus” shirt, reading a book in the 2:00 lawl.
Sitting just inside the door way, back lit by the window, consumed in the book he had raised with one hand and the other laying across his stomach. I knew it was the photograph I was walking around for. I began to raise this large box style camera with view finder up to my stomach, completely indiscreet as it could be, hoping I could get uses to the waist level view finder quick enough to capture a candid moment, he turned his head and looked at me. At that point there was no turning back and I asked through the door way if I could take his picture and luckily for me he responded with an excited “Why yes you can! Snap away!”
I took a few hopeful shots that may or may turn out the way I hope and then walked in the door to introduce myself.
“Thank you for letting my take you photo!”
“Oh that’s ok! That quite a camera you go there!”
“That is such a cool camera” the barista at the counter added.
Thankful for the conversation starter that most cameras provide, I began explaining and answering the questions he had about it all. After talking for awhile about what I was doing out and taking a couple more shots from inside, I noticed his shirt that read Romans 12: 2, team Jesus, “I like your shirt!”
“Oh thank you! It’s funny you should say that to me to today.” As he sat his book back down and leaned back in his chair. “I prayed this morning about whether I should wear this shirt or not. You know we fight our thoughts a lot. I thought I would just wear something else but I decide I wasn’t going to let the devil win.”
“I sure understand that sir. I am glad you wore it. I like it!”
He began to share his testimony with me as I sat down to enjoy some time getting to know this man that I have yet to ask his name.
“I didn’t always know the Lord but I do now. I am constantly needing that renewal of the mind that the scripture talks about.”
“We all do.” I added.
“Could you see the shirt in the photos you took?”
“I think so, but do you care if I take your portrait with my digital camera as well?”
“Go for it!”
Tim Eubank - May 20, 2026 - Modocs. By Lorynn Hunt.
As I got some photos I realized I forgot to ask his name.
“Tim. Tim Eubank.”
“Lorynn.”
We talked for a long while about life, scripture, and just puttered around talking about different things.
“What do you do? You like to come here and read, just enjoy yourself?”
“Yes, sometimes I come here to read, sometimes to talk. Really I never know each day. I seek God purpose for me for this day and not what was in the past or what it is for tomorrow. I just want to serve him well” I nodded in agreement. “It’s a privilege, you know, to serve God.” He said with a slight grin and intent to his eye.
“Yes sir! I agree with you! ”
He began to tell me about a preacher who was preparing a sermon to preach to very small church. He was spending a very long time on it when his wife came in to ask this question, “Why worry when it’s only going to be heard by a small amount of people?” The preacher reply, “You forget I only have an audience of one no matter how many people sit in the pews.”
“I only have an audience of one.” he pointed upwards with a smile, “ That how I live my life and that is why his purpose is so important to me. So I will continually seek him everyday.”
Our conversation was of the kind that fills your cup when you leave. After sitting for a while longer he added.
“I noticed something about you.”
“Oh?”
“You don’t look away. I really appreciate that.”
“Well I try to give people as much of my attention as I can, the world needs more of this.”
“I tell you what, I am sure glad you stopped by!” He leaned forward and said glancing up at me, “Awareness without honor destroys more than ignorance ever could. Your right people need this.”
I took a moment to write down what he said. “Awareness without honor destroys more than ignorance ever could.” It truly hit me just how much this mans purpose for that day could have just been for our half an hour conversation sitting as strangers.
I got his information to send over the photos too and to stay in touch.
“How old are you?”
“71”
“Thank you for sharing everything with me. I am so glad I got to meet you and I’ll send over these photos to you as soon as I can.” Shaking his hand and saying our last goodbyes for this time around, I grabbed my stuff and started to head out the door.
“One last thing hun.”
“What’s that?”
“Be careful”
“Yes sir, I will!”
With the exchange of smiles and a promise to stop by again sometime, I left Tim to continue to read his book. I don’t think a picture was ever needed to remember the presence of Time Eubank that day but I am so glad I have one. If the photos come out well from my new film camera then I will share them with you but truly I say to you, he is much more than a photograph.
Dear Tim,
Thank you for bringing a smile to my day. I will never forgot the words you told me and the time you allow me to spend with you at that center table just inside the door. I pray God continues to reveal his purpose to you each day. Your here for a reason and the world is a better place with you in it wearing that “Team Jesus” shirt with Romans 12:2 on it. Thank you for your wisdom and your kindness. Until we meet again my friend, enjoy your book and keep that smile bright!
Sincerely,
Lorynn.
Romans 12: 2
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
