Lest we forget, let’s
remind ourselves of those who’ve gone before us, paved the way for us, and set
the bar for us to measure ourselves by; first among them is Jesus followed
closely by the martyrs. It’s probably no coincidence that I started writing
this post and doing some of the research for it on the weekend we recognize
Martin Luther King Jr., nor is it any coincidence that I’m completing it after
having driven nearly 3000 miles to honor the late Reverend Walt Estelle in
Spokane.
“No man’s life starts with his own birth, for every man walks
along the path of those who came before. Every warrior’s life starts with Child
of the Water who came down onto the earth in the beginning times…” A quote
attributed to Chief Cochise found on a quilt titled “Cochise – Once They Were
Like the Wind” by Patricia L. Heacox in Green Valley, AZ. I ran across this
quilt at a show the day after I had written the bulk of my narrative for this
post and felt like it belonged here.
While I think that
it is good to remember the big names in history and especially Jesus, the First
Fruits of those that have gone on before us, I am thinking about those names
that are closer to home. Think for a moment about your schools, work places,
churches, and any number of public places. There are names for the buildings,
halls, and gardens; names for walls, rooms, and even park benches. The names
are for people and families that have made significant contributions of time
and effort; or yes, even money. Remember them for what they meant to you and
the generations before. How did their names become associated with the
dedication marker? Think about your own homes and the homes of your families.
There is Dad’s Chair, Mom’s Sewing Room, the backyard inspired by the wedding,
and Jerry’s Office, though I prefer to think of it simply as ‘The Office’, the
place where I am happily typing now and hope to write something with meaning
for someone.
I need to point out
something here that is close to my heart since I seem to be rapidly approaching
this particular status myself. Some of these people are with us now in our
churches, or alive now but have been relegated to full-time care facilities.
Remember them now and appreciate them right now. I go so far as to believe that
we should proffer projects to accommodate them and make access to our church easier
over those projects simply designed to make things look nice and be attractive
to outsiders or even to be nice for ourselves. I think that there is nothing
more attractive than a community that remembers and takes care of those who
have entered the winter season of their lives where the ravages of our human
brokenness make every move difficult and requires that every trip to the church
be planned out for parking and access.
What inspired this
trip down memory lane? Here is where my post gets more focused on La Crescenta
Presbyterian Church. One Sunday some months ago I opened up the hymnal because
I prefer it to the screen. In this hymnal I saw that it was dedicated by my
best friend Jim’s parents and I snapped a photo and sent it to him.* The idea
for this post has been simmering since then and now I’ve gone back and
photographed the hymnals and cataloged the names and dedications that were made
in 1980 and 1983. I’ve also nosed around the church grounds for the various
dedications. Koopman’s Hall and the John Estelle Room are the most widely known
but did you know that the Student Center is dedicated to Dr. Robert E. Rumer?
He’s one of the four youth pastors that I had as a kid who are nestled in my
heart.
I have not figured how to attach the file of my catalog but would love to share it if you want to look it over; my next post will contain my personal thoughts that occurred as I gathered the information for the catalog Here is a link to the photos
that I took for you to peruse if you would like. These photos can also be viewed on my Facebook page under LCPC Dedications.
Take a walk down your
own memory lane, honor those who’ve gone before you. Look around you and take
note of the trailblazers who even now walk haltingly among us or are being
wheeled in and out by another servant. These are the ones who have heard or are
destined to hear the words, “Welcome, my good and faithful servant.”
In His grip, jerry
*My how time flies. A subsequent review of my photo of the
McClelland dedication show that I took that picture and have been thinking
about doing this post in August of 2013. Proof positive that I am a world class
procrastinator.
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