In so many cases, the best friends I have are those who give me books.
My good friend Linda Dyer Clevenger Welch gave me several old books a few months ago. One of them was an American literature book. I have been going through it for the past several weeks, reading those selections that perk my interest.
It seems that my favorite part of old literature books is the short story section. In the most recent I’ve scanned, I read short stories I have read many times over the years and some new to me, though they were written decades ago.
The book also had a section on biography. I found myself intrigued by a quote of James Baldwin from his Notes of a Native Son: “I love America more than any other country in the world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” (From The United States in Literature: The Glass Menagerie Edition, © 1976, Scott, Foresman and Company)
What a chord that struck with me! I was glad to know that at least one other human being, and a famous individual at that, was highly critical of something he loved. I have felt guilty all throughout my life for criticizing those things I have cherished most in life. I can remember once making a highly critical statement of the Union County School System, my employer, the entity that not only educated me in my childhood and youth but has provided me employment these past 34 years, allowing me to obtain the things that I cherish most in life. I don’t remember the particular critical statement I made, but I do know it was to another school system employee and a former Sunday School teacher of mine. (I wonder if she remembers?) I do, however, remember her reply, something to the effect that I needed to be glad of the job I had and keep my mouth shut about things that didn’t directly concern me!
In later years I often quote Ms. Patricia McKelvey, who used to say, “If it doesn’t affect your paycheck, keep your mouth shut.”
Why would I have criticized the organization that has been my foundation and lifeblood? It is perhaps just for that very reason — the more critical to survival something is, the more it is cherished and scrutinized, as the disappointment is so great when it is perceived as not being the best it can be.
I am also reminded of the times that I have criticized the church in which I was raised. Why? For the same reason listed above, I suppose.
I have learned that one way to appreciate what you have is to go somewhere that it does not exist. The church of which I am currently a member is closed once again due to COVID. In the meantime, I am visiting the church of my childhood both literally, as in physically sitting in the pew for a live service, and revisiting it in my mind.
I can see clearly all the old saints I used to know who attended the First Baptist Church of Maynardville who have passed on to Heaven. I wonder if they would be pleased with the changes that have been made since their passing.
I think of the founding members of the church from 1842. How would they feel if they could return and attend a service today in the church they founded 178 years ago and named Maynardville Baptist Church? I find myself so happy to return and hear David Myers’ wonderful organ playing and hear the old hymns of the faith that are so often lacking in other churches. I know the founding members would be happy to know that the Gospel is being preached — I’m sure much as it was almost two centuries ago.
And friends? How many of them have fallen victim to my critical tongue throughout the years? And I know I have fallen victim to their criticisms as well. One of the true tests of friendship seems to be an ability to give criticize, take criticism, disagree, get feelings hurt, and make up.
My friends are neither less nor greater in perfection that I, and for friendships to sustain there must be an ability to truly forgive, not just with the mouth but with the heart. I have had friends who have remained constant for practically a lifetime, and others that disintegrated in the face of differences of opinion or sins of the tongue.
Another biographical selection in the same textbook mentioned above was written by John Dos Passos, an individual of which I had never heard until reading his selection. He was writing about a famous individual whom he described as follows:
Like the life of many a preacher, prophet, exhorter, _____’s life had been stormy. He has raised children, had rows with wives, overstepped boundaries, got into difficulties with the law, divorce courts, bankruptcy, always the yellow press yapping at his heels, his misfortunes yelled out in headlines in the evening papers: affairs with women, the nightmare horror of the burning of his house in Wisconsin . . .
His life has been full of arrogant projects unaccomplished. (From The United States in Literature: The Glass Menagerie Edition, © 1976, Scott, Foresman and Company, p. M138)
Everyone has a story. The current pastor at Loveland Baptist Church, Brandon Blair, posted this on Facebook today: “Be kind. You never know what someone is going through. Your words may be the only thing that keeps them pressing forward.”
I would never have guessed that the above quote from John Dos Passos was written about the architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Even famous people have problems.
But perhaps the great thing to remember about Frank Lloyd Wright is that history has not remembered him for his mistakes or “arrogant projects unaccomplished” — it has remembered him for his accomplishments. Hopefully our friends will treat us as kindly.
In a sermon at Loveland Baptist Church, Preacher Charlie Lynch told of a drunkard. Charlie said he once asked him why he didn’t put that stuff away and quit. The man replied in tears that he put it down every day. As we part from this meeting in print, Faithful Reader, remember that every day is a new day, and though the past cannot be changed, the future can be affected by a change today. May all your todays be better than your yesterdays, but not as good as your tomorrows.
I leave you with a pun from my world of email:
I know a guy who's addicted to brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.