I have the sad news to report that my grandfather, Dale Turner, passed away today. He was the religion columnist for the Seattle Times, and the former pastor of the University Congregational Church in Seattle. I don't know if anyone here read his column, so I'll post an excerpt from one of his books. I'll put the link to an archive of all his columns as well. He inspired everyone I know, and was one of my greatest teachers while growing up. Our family is having a tough time, so your prayers would be appreciated.
Three weeks ago my wife and I attended a concert at Meany Hall on the campus of the University of Washington. The featured soloist was a 27-year-old tenor. He was outstanding, but it was his accompanist who captured my imagination and admiration.
He was an unassuming young man but highly talented. He had mastered the skill of being the unobtrusive servant of another's art. He was sensitive to the singer's phrasing, accent, timing — always watching the face, listening to the breathing. It was his supportive role that helped make the evening a delight. He accepted the fact that as an accompanist he would succeed to the degree that he was forgotten.
But he did not go unnoticed. The singer invited the accompanist on stage with him for curtain calls, and then, stepping aside, he pointed to him in gratitude. The generous applause that followed gave evidence that the audience was not unaware of the important role he played.
It is reassuring to know that a person does not have to be a star to be useful. Giving the support that enables another to succeed is one of the finest expressions of humility, love and unselfishness.
Dr. Halford Luccock, a longtime professor at Yale Divinity School, tells of a college commencement in which a young man graduated with high honors. There was in the audience a great musician — his mother. For years she had rendered notable music on two remarkable musical instruments — a typewriter and a washboard — the melodious accompaniment which made his education possible.
An Ivy League professor who made a study of National Merit Scholarship winners discovered that behind every one of those high-school young people there was an individual — a mother, a father, teacher, coach, pastor, scoutmaster, Camp Fire leader — someone who really cared, who continually encouraged excellence, never letting a student be satisfied with mediocrity.
Robert Brookfield, an actor, was once mistakenly reported to be dead. He had the rare experience of seeing his own obituary. It read: "Never a great actor, he was invaluable in supporting roles." Though he might not have considered that a compliment, nothing finer could be said of anyone — invaluable in supporting roles.
"We can't all be heroes," remarked Will Rogers, "because somebody has to sit on the curb and clap as they go by."
Often those who serve in supportive roles go unheralded, but without them others would not succeed.
Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers football team is a great quarterback. All sports-minded Americans know his name, but there are relatively few who could list the names of one or more of the offensive linemen who protected Montana, making it possible for him to throw a record number of touchdown passes in Super Bowl XXIV. It is to the credit of Montana that he constantly speaks of his teammates when commendation is directed his way. "Football," he says, "is a team sport. No one can play it alone."
Great scientists have been quick to acknowledge their indebtedness to others. Jonas Salk said the work he was able to do depended on the research of hundreds of men and women whose names remain unknown, but whose labors made possible the polio vaccine. Sir Isaac Newton said, "If I have been able to see farther than others, it was because I stood on the shoulders of giants."
More and more it is becoming obvious that great social change is not traceable to the skills of leaders so much as to the concern of millions of unknown individuals who cry out for justice and freedom. Winston Churchill was aware of this truth. He said it was the British people who had the lion's heart. It was his good luck to provide the roar.
In religion, too, great contributions have been made by those most of us have never heard of. The name David Livingston is known to millions of people, but only a few have ever heard of David Hogg. He was the Sunday school teacher in Scotland who instilled in Livingston the sense of self-worth and desire to serve that encouraged the missionary to serve the needs of thousands in Africa.
Most of us will never be famous or widely known, but it is heartening to know that no one is useless who encourages and enables others to realize their best. The role of subordinate is not a consolation prize but an opportunity to meet the needs of others in unheralded but important ways.
In Oliver Goldsmith's poem, "The Deserted Village," he describes the parson whose philosophy is worth emulating:
Unpracticed he to fawn, or seek for power,
By doctrines fashioned to the varying hour;
For other aims his heart had learned to prize,
More skilled to raise the wretched than to rise.
His columns at the Seattle Times...
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/search?searchType=date&maxReturn=10&skip=0&source=search§ionID=&query=Religion+%2F+The+Rev.+Dale+Turner&period=archive&Go.x=11&Go.y=14
Printer-friendly format
Email this thread to a friend
Bookmark this thread
(1000+ posts)
Send PM |
Profile |
Ignore
