I don’t mean disrespect, but
I hope some future pope
will wise up and canonize
deceased people who,
though not Catholic, magnificently
embodied Christ’s
example and teachings. What
a giant step that would be in
acknowledging all of God’s
children!
Here’s my short list of towering
figures of my own lifetime,
ones whose practice of
virtue eclipses that of millions
of the avowedly pious. I think
I’ll send it to Pope Benedict
XVI, though probably it will
be tucked into some archive.
But maybe it’ll catch the
attention of some successor,
a few more popes down the
apostolic line:
MAHATMA GANDHI, that
gentle Hindu saint, once said
he’d gladly embrace Christianity
himself if he ever saw
people seriously practicing
it. By default, he took Jesus’
teachings, melded them into
his own faith tradition, and
spent a lifetime of simplicity
and selfless dedication.
He confronted the world’s
most powerful nation with
no weapons but compassion,
non-violence, and love;
and he broke their arrogant
spirit and sent them packing
from his country. Gandhi’s
reward was martyrdom at the
hands, perhaps inevitably, of
a religious zealot who could
not stand this peaceful sign of
contradiction.
MARTIN LUTHER KING, in
deep admiration of Gandhi,
drew the Hindu saint and
martyr’s example back into
his own devout Christianity.
With a prophet’s power and
surety, King preached equal
rights for all humans. For his
Christian witness to equality,
he suffered insults, indignities,
and physical violence
to match the ordeals of the
Mahatma. And, in the end, he
was murdered, like Gandhi, by
a true believer in the bigotry
he gently opposed.
And NELSON MANDELA,
deep admirer of Gandhi and
of King, spent almost thirty
years in prison for daring
to witness against apartheid
in South Africa. When
finally freed and elected the
country’s first Black president,
he firmly steered the huge
native population away from
any revenge on the tiny white
minority that had so abused
them and their human rights.
What a hero! What a saint!
Those three would be a
good start, thought Mandela’s
canonization would probably
have to wait until after his
death.
And so would recognition
of Bishop Desmond Tutu, who
also belongs on the list. If
you’d like to propose further
names, I’d welcome them and
will forward them along to
my brother Benedict in Rome.
While we’re at it, I also
want to note that you and I
constantly cross paths with
saints in our daily lives _ men
and women whose beautiful
virtue radiates from them in
loving service to others. Since
there’s little chance that the
Vatican will ever get around
to recognizing them, I’m going
to propose them to you
for canonization in the old
way, before the Pope got the
corner on the franchise. The
old way was by acclamation
by all the people. That’s we,
the people.
And so here's my short
list, first, of deceased locals
who were Saints in my book.
First, I offer for your acclamation
Saint George of Feed
Store Road. That’s Fly Creek’s
George Badgley, a Quaker’s
Quaker who blessed this area
with his ministry for the last
decades of his almost 100
years. George incarnated the
Friends’ ideals of simplicity,
peace-making, integrity, community,
and equality. He was
a tall, sober man, tempered
a bit by the Puritanism that
gave Quakerism its birth.
But he was generous and
great-hearted, too, and had a
sly humor that never failed to
delight.
The great work of George’s
later life was prison visitation.
He not only visited and
counseled at our local jail but
often followed prisoners that
he’d met there to visit them
at Auburn, Coxsackie, and
even to Woodbourne, the
forbidding maximum-security
prison in Sullivan County. (I
once visited the last-mentioned
with George; the chill
of those long corridors is still
in my bones.)
Now, ten years after failing
health ended those visits of
compassion, prisoners still
recall their ``old Mr. Badgley’’
and the strength he gave
them simply by caring.
Though George would scoff
at a papist title like ``Saint,’’
he’s one in my book and
always will be.
And let me also propose
Saint Helen the United Methodist.
Cooperstown’s Methodists
miss her greatly, and so
do I. Helen Tyrell, carried on
a ministry of Christian love
for scores of years. A friend
of mine, now in his seventies,
remembers her from his own
impoverished youth. Helen was
a school cafeteria manager back
then, and always laid out a massive
turkey dinner just before
Thanksgiving and Christmas.
``In those depression days,
she knew that the feast would
be the only one those kids
would enjoy.’’ The old boy
chuckled. ``Then she’d send
kids home with all the turkey
racks [carcasses], so a lot of
soup got made.’’
People around Cooperstown
could pile on more
stories of Saint Helen’s
continued goodness. I knew
her best through our own jail
ministry. She’d sweep into the
Detention Center, radiating
maternal light ``to those who
sit in darkness and death’s
shadow.’’ And she was a true
mother to many of the young
prisoners, offering firm teaching
and tough love that was
like water on wilted plants.
Oh, and there’s also Saint
Jean the Methodist. (Methodists
are really good at
turning them out!) That’s Jean
Wyckoff of Cooperstown. Her
loving service extended far
beyond her own congregation,
and she was a beloved
figure in a score of good
works. Jean’s sweet temper
and openness made her a
spontaneous confidante for
dozens of people; if United
Methodists have mother
confessors, Jean was surely
one. Call her Saint Jean, I say,
and thank God for all she was
to so many.
OK, I'm fast-forwarding
in my imagination, maybe
a hundred years. Behind his
Vatican desk sits His Holiness
Pope John XXVI, a tall
and dignified African whose
ebony skin contrasts magnificently
with his white cassock
and skullcap.
The Pope is deeply engrossed
at his laptop when
the eight-foot doors of his
study open and close behind
the Vatican archivist, Bishop
Margaret Lloyd. In her forties,
she came to Rome only ten
years after the first ordinations
of women. Today she
is very excited. ``Holy Father,
forgive my interrupting, but I
have found a document you
must see! It is an old letter to
a predecessor of yours. I think
the letter carries a message; I
would almost say, an inspiration.’’
John XXVI smiles as she
hands him the yellowed
letter; he reads it carefully.
Halfway through, his smile
broadens beautifully. He is
nodding slowly as he reaches
the end.
READ ABOUT Jim Atwell’s book, “From
Fly Creek--Celebrating Life in
Leatherstocking Country,” at JimAtwell.
com
Columns
Jim Atwell: My canonization list
- Columns
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
It is with sadness that we note the passing of long time friend, and distantrelative, Jane Patrick. Over the years we have worked with Jane in a number of organizations including Women’s Club and the Community Advisory Committee at Bassett. And, of course, in later years we joined her, along with the other Dinner Belles, for any number of delicious meals. But we do think that our favorite memory that we shared with Jane was when we discovered, having both married Cooperstown natives, that we shared Cooperstown Christmas plans.
Continued ... -
Up On Hawthorn Hill: Bird Feeder?
Bird feeder is a relative term. At least that is the case around here. A few mornings ago we spotted the first rabbit to visit the feeders. Normally, all we see during the winter are rabbit tracks crisscrossing the gardens.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Cheers for the Blue Rabbit!
My handwriting’s always been an embarrassment. Way back in elementary school, while most of the others were developing a clear, sometimes graceful hand (especially the girls), my penmanship showed no improvement.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: This and that ...
We have found the weather so far this year to be on the unusual side. And while we have no problem with the fact that we have received very little snow, we are of the opinion that what we have had instead is not particularly to our liking either. In fact, we are very hesitant to venture out much as we live in fear that the rain will turn to mixed precipitation which will freeze into a sheet of ice. And we are definitely opposed to encountering a sheet of ice underfoot. In fact, we are so hesitant that we now have taken to canceling our participation in events based on what just might be a dubious forecast.
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Book Notes: Feinstein’s latest is sheer enjoyment
Most people who follow sports have probably heard of John Feinstein. As a nationally known author, sportswriter, pundit and broadcaster, he has brought a unique angle to sports journalism. His groundbreaking book on Bobby Knight’s 1986-87 Indiana University basketball team, “A Season on the Brink,” still resonates today as an all-time classic.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: No Trekkie should miss Shatner’s books
It would be hard to find a television phenomenon as popular as “Star Trek.” Even though it was only on television for three seasons and 79 episodes (1966-69) it attracted viewers and devotees that still follow it passionately 45 years later. The fanatical supportspawned several movies and television spinoffs. Star Trek conventions continue to this day. There has never been anything like it.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Making sense of things
A book I have been reading investigates the various ways over time that we have made sense of the world. It carries the reader through to the present via several seminal classical texts and ultimately aims to suggest a strategy for “ finding meaning in a secular age.”
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: ‘Property must be secured or liberty cannot exist.’ − John Adams
Last week we were asked if we would be interested in previewing a documentary, “The Empire State Divide,”produced by the Foundation for Land & Liberty. And we were more than happy to do so as we understood the documentary dealt with the problems that continue to face family farms.
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From Fly Creek: Now wait a minute!
On the ninth day of Christmas, driving down Cooperstown’s Eagle Street, I saw something astounding! No, not “nineladies dancing, eight maids a-milking, seven swans” etc. I saw one jogger jogging. And puffing on a cigarette.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: Goals of the past and goals of the future
We have long subscribed to the concept that we are always more successful if we, number one, set a goal and then, number two, meet it. And this was our thinking when we decided before Christmas to watch at least part of every college football bowl game. It was perhaps an odd, if not completely nonsensical, goal.
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In These Otsego Hills: Not to our liking ...
It is with sadness that we note the recent death of Steve Nagel. The son-inlaw of our late husband’s cousins, Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek, Steve was married to the Ecklers’ oldest daughter, Gail. We had the pleasure of spending Christmas Eve with the Nagels and the Ecklers in Fly Creek, greatly enjoying the delicious food and delightful conversation.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Of birds and faith
I watch birds quite a bit. Every five days or so I send in a report to Cornell as partof its annual Project Feeder Watch program. The data, collected from volunteers from all over the country, enables scientists to track population trends. I would spend quite a bit of time checking out the visitors to our feeders anyway. Participating in the feeder program makes a personal pleasure that much more meaningful. It is rare that aesthetical and scientific endeavors work in tandem.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Biography captures the real Stephen Colbert
It would be hard to find a comedian as unique as Stephen Colbert. As the host of “The Colbert Report” on Comedy Central he hasmanaged to leave his mark on the nation’s consciousness in both a serious and humorous sort of way. His unusual wit has allowed him to become American icon. It would be difficult to find another entertainer quite like him.
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From Fly Creek: Christmas and varied blessings
I’m still astounded! The last farmers’ market before Christmas, I was sitting up front, directly under the ceiling heater, shmoozing with the hoi-polloi. (That’s an awkward linguistic mix,but let’s let it go.) As I sipped my hot coffee, a gloved hand came to rest on my shoulder and a warm voice said, “Merry Christmas, Jim.” I looked to my left—it was Santa Claus!
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In These Otsego Hills: Always a learning experience ...
We must admit that we thoroughly enjoyed our 2011 Christmas celebration. We partook of Christmas Eve dinner at the home of Alice and Harvey Eckler of Fly Creek and Christmas Day dinner at the home of Sandy and Al Bullard of Milford. We had our usual Christmas Day brunch at home on Pioneer Street, although we must admit it was a tad bit later than usual as, what we enjoyed most about Christmas, namely our granddaughter Abby, took a great deal of time opening her Christmas presents.
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In These Otsego Hills: Coming up ... 2012
Difficult as it seems, 2011 is fast coming to an end. And it is always our hope that as a year draws to a close, the issues which have been in the forefront during the year will be resolved. Unfortunately, we suspect that will not be the case this year. Instead, we are fairly certain that many of the issues that plagued this year, will continue to plague next year. Thus we will find ourselves still musing about the same issues we have spent time with already. And while we have not come toany conclusions about many of the issues, we do think they would all likely benefit from both sides thinking critically about perspective, risk assessment and possible solutions.
Continued ... -
Up on Hawthorn Hill: Circularity
When she was a puppy my dog Gabby would run in what I described then as “circles of joy.” She celebrated her15th birthday a few weeks ago and despite the inevitable frailties that old age imposes upon all of us, she is doing pretty well.
Continued ... -
Book Notes: Grisham doesn’t disappoint
John Grisham is one of this country’s most popular authors. Every time he publishes a book it’s an instant best-seller. He appeared on the scene about 20 years ago with his tense legal thrillers, “A Time to Kill” and “The Firm,”and hasn’t stopped producing top-notch novels since.
Continued ... -
From Fly Creek: Still singing, beyond our hearing
This column from Christmas 2001 still speaks deeply to me, and perhaps will to you, too. Take it, please, as my Christmas gift.
Continued ... -
In These Otsego Hills: The 2011 Cooperstown Carol
Since 1984, with the exception of one year, 1999, we have looked forward at the end of the year to going through all the issues of the paper in order to glean those news items which have been worthy of note throughout the year and which should make their way into our annual Cooperstown Carol.
Continued ...
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In These Otsego Hills: The losses are adding up ...
