No, I don’t look like my mother, though I’d rather favor her than my father! “You look like your mother” were the words spoken to Janice on Sunday evening by Jeri. I’d forgotten Jeri and her husband, Harry Robert, were apartment mates with Jan’s parents at Pepperdine back in the 1940s. Jan’s mother was a beautiful woman and Jan is no less beautiful than her mom!
I fell in love with Harry Robert and Jeri the first time I ever met them … probably 15 years ago. I grew up in a religious heritage (don’t use the word fellowship because we were so stinkin’ careful about whom we would fellowship … there weren’t many, and those we did, we did so with suspicion!) in which the older generation, as I recall, seemed to have the Bible pretty much figured out. At least “our” view of the Bible.
Not that many years ago, I sat in a staff meeting in which the minister to seniors told us “younger” ministers that he had the Bible figured out. We asked for some clarification and basically were told there was nothing left in the Bible for him to learn.
Really? There is nothing in the Bible he didn’t know? But that was the attitude of too many of his generation.
So what a breath of fresh air it was to meet an elder of over 40 years by the name of Bud who seemed to just grow more mellow and gracious with every year. And what a breath of fresh air to meet Harry Robert when he was in his late 70′s … a man with such a hunger for learning and a heart of grace. We roomed together one year at Pepperdine Bible Lectures and it was just a joy to listen to his years of wisdom and grace. (Unlike some of the others I roomed with, but I’ll not mention any names!)
Harry Robert has been a preacher, college professor, teacher of world religions, missionary to Japan, and social worker for the county of Los Angeles. When I first met him, and his lovely wife, I was immediately impressed with their gentle grace. She had (and has) a passion for the Holy Spirit that had always been missing in my heritage. He just loved telling others about the Gospel of Jesus.
Not the “steps of salvation” but the life-filling overflowing of God’s love in our lives that leaves one with no choice but to be transformed by it. He has taught Mormons, Buddhist priests, Communists, and people within our own tradition … possibly the hardest to reach.
Sunday night, we met them at their house about 45 miles south of us and enjoyed a reunion of friendship. He is pushing 91 and works with over a dozen different congregations as a teacher. They spend hours each week counseling others, especially couples who are doing all they can to end a marriage. Their passion is to help preachers and elders entrapped in legalistic sectarianism to find freedom in Christ. More than a few of the preachers have had to leave their pulpits to enjoy this freedom.
I can’t remember a Sunday evening I’ve enjoyed more. I really want to be that type of man as I grow older. Grace filled and ever thirsting to know more of God’s amazing love.
I have a long way to go and probably not enough years left to reach that goal. But as I open my heart to the Lord’s love … just maybe!!
Isn’t it great to be around a mature Christian who has wisdom, insight and humility about his walk with the Lord and especially the Bible. It’s good to know that we can all still learn and grow in the faith. What a great example Harry Robert and Jeri are.
I have met some of these same kinds of wonderful people throughout my life, and I have met such a man since living in Oklahoma. Sometimes I feel like the woman (and others who were sick) who knew if she could only touch the hem of Jesus garment she would be healed. I think to myself, wouldn’t it be wonderful if by shaking this mans hand or by hugging him I could be like him. He is one of the most humble, kind-hearted-gentle spirited man I have ever met. Both men and women love to listen to him teach a class and simply to visit with him.
Nothing more for him to learn? Boy howdy………that’s a mouthful!!
I’m glad you & Jan got to spend some time with this wonderful couple, Greg.
As for – “you look [just] like your mother” – that statement got Tom into a whole lot of water last week the day before my birthday/anniversary. I was bemoaning the fact that it seemed all of the stresses of the past year or so have somehow taken their toll in my face. For about four or five years, my eyelids have been dropping worse and worse over my eyes, even to the point of hindering my vision.
About three years ago I sought the services of an eye surgeon to tack the muscles in my eyelids up (or whatever they do), as well as removing the excess skin hanging in my eyelids (that part would be for me paying for it). The surgery fell through at the last minute because of our insurance company.
Over the past six or eight months, my eyelids have gotten MUCH worse and I was upset the other day about it, although Tom always says my eyes “squint up” when I laugh, anyway.
But, in trying to comfort me the other day while I was pulling my eyelids up with my fingers and trying to pinch the excess skin and drooping lids up, Tom said, “Dee – don’t worry about it. You look great. You look just like your mother.”
That really upset me then. I’m like, yeah great – my mom is nearly 90 years old!!
So, the next day on my birthday I went by the doctor’s office to make an appointment to try again. We have a friend who’s eyes were really bad like that and Medicare paid to have them repaired. I’m hoping I can do the same thing.
In the meantime – be careful how you phrase it when you tell a woman she looks just like her mother!
Dee
A truly rare find. Glad you are blessed to know them.
This sentence sums up the desire of my heart “Not the “steps of salvation” but the life-filling overflowing of God’s love in our lives that leaves one with no choice but to be transformed by it” … you just know how to put it into words.
Trust the Englands in California are doing well.