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Many endeavors inspiringBy REV. DR. FRIEDRICH REST First Protestant ChurchAnything that is well done inspires me, whether it is in the areas of sports, religion, art, manufacturing, publishing or some other endeavor altogether. One condition seems to be necessary: that I know something about it and can therefore enjoy with understanding the inspiration offered.Two things come to mind at this time. One is strangely in the area of conferencesand the other in the realm of personal efforts.When 1 go to an informative/legislative conference, I don’t expect to be inspired, so what I have to say now about the Board for World Ministries in Cleveland. Ohio, in the middle of November was surprizingly moving, i My expectations of being informed were fully realized also.)On Nov. 14, the 225 members of the board were accompanied to the beautiful St. John's Cathedral bv about 800 of the 28,000r ■members of our various UCC churches in Cleveland. The church was packed with delegates, missionaries, overseas partners. staff and other members who joined in making sincere melody to the lxrd, climaxed by the Hallelujiah Chorus at the close of the service.Part of the speech by Dr David Stowe about China inspired me, for he reminded us of the vast amount of criticism which the National Council of Church of Jesus Christ received years ago when they prophetically called for the recognition of Ked China. Now the world has caught upwith the Church pronouncement and we begin to see the insights of others.I began to swallow a couple of extra times early in the service when Miriam Brown from India was honored for 45 years of work there as a missionary. She spent a life time of devoted service and unforgettable ministry to the girls and women of India. The whole meeting was well planned and every one with leadership responsibility was effective and informative.Another inspiring part of the four and a half day meeting of the Board unfolded that same night, when about 80 enthusiastic young people known as the “Singing Angels” gave a concert for us as they had done in the White House and in Europe. The group included people of different races, creeds, economic and ethnic categories. If I could have clapped longer at times I would have been happy to. We were moved again and again with such numbers as “The Holy City,” “When the Saints Go Marching In” and “Battle Hymn of the Republic.”In the area of personal contacts, I am often moved by people with handicaps, especially when they are able to do many things I wouldn’t ordinarily expect. I read lately of a person who uses a motorized wheelchair and spends hours each day in a respirator. She had a serious bout with polio. Her name is Mary Bou Crump Spiess, a Methodist in Stockton, Calif.Mary Spiess wrote a variation of the Beatitudes as follows:“Blessed are you who have accepted me just as another member of your church family, for you have acknowledged my fullhumanity.“Blessed are you who have expected me to do my share, for you have recognized my abilities rather than my disabilities.“Blessed are you who listen to my quiet, rapid, sometimes breathless speech, for you have taught me I need not be afraid even of public speaking.“Blessed are you who accompany me in public places, ignoring the stares and refusing to speak for me, for in your companionship I find normalcy.“Blessed are you who, seeing an apparent need, ask if you may help, for you leave me the dignity of doing for myself while making it easy to ask for help when I need or want it.“Blessed are you who ask how you may help for it is smoother and safer when the assistant waits for instructions.“Blessed are you who saw my need for mobility and met it, for you have helped me realize my full potentiality.“Blessed are you for, by all these things, you have constantly assured me that my uniqueness is not my paralyzed muscles or my fancy wheelchair, but the God-given self which polio could not confine.“Blessed above all are you who extend these attitudes into the greater community and accept all persons for who they are and what they can do, for you preserve the dignity and humanity of all persons.“Rejoice and be exceedingly glad and know that you give me and other who don't meet the norm’ reassurances which can never be spoken in words, for you deal with us in the true spirit of God.(From The Caring Congregation, Vol. 3,No. 3, White Plains. N Y.)
Newspaper Details
New Braunfels Herald Zeitung
New Braunfels, Texas, US
Fri, Dec 10, 1982
Page 5
Full Page
Clipped by
Daniel M.
GB 19 Jun 2022
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