All There
by J. Ellsworth Kalas
I’m thinking just now of a real life person, a description in a short story by Joseph Epstein, and a quote in a sermon from one of the great Scottish preachers of a generation past. This is the way that strangest and most wonderful of all computers, the human brain, does its work.
The person, now long gone to her reward, was a woman who was easily overlooked unless you had opportunity to see the depths beneath her unpolished surface. She was born with ill health that pursued her over her relatively short life. Her parents found her burdensome. She was not physically prepossessing and she didn’t especially try to improve on her native state. But along the way she came to a lively, lovely, vigorous faith in Christ, and she blessed people on every side, especially the Down syndrome baby she adopted.
Now for Joseph Epstein. He tells of a social event for Chicago’s movers and shakers, and observes that while these folks were hugging one another, “each of them is looking over the shoulder of the other to see if there’s someone more important in the room.” You know the scene.
Back to the lady I first mentioned. One Sunday as she was leaving church her minister (who is, also, long gone) asked her how she was, then quickly began talking with the next person in line. My friend answered sharply, “Don’t ask me how I am unless you want to know.” When she reported the incident to me, I thought she had given an appropriate answer, providing the kind of lesson we professional hand-shakers in the ministry ought to ponder. Her pastor didn’t see it that way. He was so impressed by what she had done that he telephoned her that afternoon to say that he felt she owed him an apology.
Which brings me to the great Scottish preacher, George H. Morrison. He quotes a description of another preacher-pastor of the past, Edward Irving: “He addressed ordinary individuals as if they were heroes and princes, made poor astonished women in tiny London apartments feel themselves ladies in the light of his courtesy; and unconsciously elevated every person he talked with into the ideal person he ought to have been.”
I think that’s what we mean by the term “Christ-like.” It means forgetting ourselves while being engrossed with the other person. Perhaps this is part of the human side of Jesus’ miracles of healing: he gave full attention to the person before him. He heard Bartimaeus above the noise of the crowd. I doubt that we can heal anyone if we’re self-occupied or pre-occupied, or half-attentive. And of course we’re called to be healers. It comes with the name Christian. By definition, we’re health in the midst of a sick world. But we won’t make it if we’re only half there.
Short, sweet, and extremely well put. I always enjoy and appreciate Dr. Kalas’ articles and insights. Yes we are often too self-occupied or pre-occupied to see the hurting around us. Guilty as charged.
I always enjoy reading Dr. Kalas’ writings. He has a way of writing that captures my attention and opens wide the eyes of my heart. There is one sentence, however, I could not understand. Perhaps it is my English, but I wonder if he meant to say that the Pastor owed the parishioner an apology instead of saying: “He was so impressed by what she had done that he telephoned her that afternoon to say that he felt she owed him an apology.”
Unfortunately, Simone, the pastor in question didn’t respond as he should have. That’s the point of the sentence which precedes his response, in which I say, “Her pastor didn’t see it that way.” He felt insulted when he should have felt the need to ask forgiveness.
Dr. Kalas, I’m part of a Sunday school class that uses the UMC adult quarterly, and sometimes subtitute as teacher for the class. We always especially appreciate the quarterly when you write the llessons. I’m part of the Anti-Can’t Class in Hermitage, TN. I appreciate your writing ministry, including reading some of your books.
Thanks so very much, Bob, for your generous word. You’ve blessed me! Notes like yours keep me writing.
Ellsworth
Moving and convicting. I want to be a real Christian.
Inspiring and convicting. I want to be a true Christian.
Ellsworth – when I read something and end up smiling I know it hit my heart. I love a fresh view of something. You made me see the queenly-ness of the woman and the artificial elegance of the pastor. How I want to be the one who truly sees. You are that, yes you are. Bless you for sharing another moment with us.
Dr. Kalas,
I have marveled over your capacity for observation, and have been blessed by the ready insight and commentary which flows from your “strange and wonderful computer.” Thank you for challenging us to see as Christ sees, and to love as He loves. I’m better for knowing you.