“A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver and gold.” Proverbs 22:1
Yep! That’s me… well, at the least a likeness of me and my personality. My father gave me the nickname, Spanky, way back in the day.
I really didn’t mind all that much, seeing how I watched “Spanky and the Gang” faithfully each and every Saturday morning. He said that I reminded him of Spanky.
The name kinda’ stuck with me from then on, though, no one actually called me “Spanky” the whole time I was growing up. Still, I really liked the name because it matched how I thought I must have been like to everyone else.
The year was 2002 and I was being interviewed on National Public Radio about my “Hike4Kids” along the Appalachian Trail. During the “live” broadcast, the radio interviewer asked what trail name I was going to use as I hiked. “Spanky!”, I proudly proclaimed.
The poor fellow. He began laughing so hard, he had to step away from the microphone all the while clutching his stomach and mouth trying to choke out the laughter. The radio engineer was in an adjacent room banging on the glass partition that separated our sound proof booth from the rest of world, yelling something in sign language about “dead air!”
Watching all this take place, a brilliant idea popped into my head… I took over the next few minutes of their interview and filled in the gap with several of my rambunctious boyhood escapades - animating and embellishing minor facts, events and details. I am sure that “Spanky McFarland” was up there in heaven somewhere, smiling approvingly at my impromptu ad-lib.
Funny how people may not remember your face, your career choices, where you live or what you own but, they will remember a unique name when they hear it. Even today, I get emails from folks I met as I hiked the Appalachian Trail six years ago. They always ask the same question right at the beginning of their letter… “Are you the same Spanky that I met on the A.T. back in 2002?”
Yep! I am the same guy alright! And, my message has never changed. I love Jesus Christ and follow Him. The large family I have and the wonderful wife I share my life’s journey with are gifts from Him to me!
Land sakes! I got life, family and the girl too!
“Aw shucks… it ain’t so bad being Spanky!”
William “Cody” Bateman aka, Spanky
An expert on blended family dynamics from a biblical point of view, William and his dear wife, Elaine have mentored many older young adults over the years. Former youth ranch parents and “Youth for Christ” missionaries, the Bateman’s remain available for speaking engagements and conferences related to the family, single-parenting, blended families, women’s and men’s conferences.
William is hiking 2,175-miles along the Appalachian Trail beginning June 1st, 2008. Originally, Mr. Bateman planned this adventure in 2005 but delayed his “Hike4Fathers” in order to take in to his home an additional three teenagers needing help at a critical juncture in their young lives.
Please consider become a financial supporter of William Bateman’s “Hike4Fathers 2008″ journey across America, will you? Any donation will directly aid he, his large family obligations and, at the same time - encouraging men across America to consider the vocation called, “Fatherhood.”
“Parents are not in the business of raising children. Parents are in the business of raising parents.” ~ William “Cody” Bateman
Hike4Fathers 2008 Press Release or Read His Truth Hiker Devotionals
Hello Mrs. Bateman,
My father and I were hiking along the Old Speck Trail today (7/5/0
in the Mahoosuc’s range on the ME/NH border when we ran into your husband. He told us the cause of him hiking the AT and told us to shoot you a message and to check out his website. We wanted to let you know that he’s a very jolly man who is alive and doing well. He cannot wait to get to Gorham, NH to visit Burger King, home of the Whopper. He plans to endulge in one of those. Take care!
Chad and Jack