1915 Education | Eastern NC Now

    Stan

    I think this is a "good un" worthy of people reading Beaufort County Now. People will then know of what I am trying to describe: Play religion vs. Authentic faith.

    Gene

    Your letter to Lucille is interesting. She, like my sister, is suffering from "being tied up in nots" = thou shalt not do this and that! She takes great pride in the Dean's List, but was driven to perfection by our Baby Boom ideals and religion of the South. I give her great credit for being a nurse and touching sick and grouchy people under her care. Her "perfection" is troubling to me.

    Let me explain my "rough" take on things. It is modeled after the Jesus of the whip with Moneychangers and the poor. Jesus chose to be a carpenter as he grew up following his father ---- and carpenters are known for the clear language---not cursing, but cussing, at times.

    Please --- Never say I left the ministry. My ministry is NOW --- and the clear and plain things I write are meant to communicate and inspire people to think in terms other than the "sweetness and perfection" of the pulpit.

    I NEVER tell potential customers I have a degree in Theology/Psychology/Series 6 Securities/Life Underwriter Training Council Fellow. I do not sell jobs with religion. However, when I have earned their trust taking down a dangerous tree without hurting the house or yard, they start to talk of their life and their struggles of a spiritual nature.

    THEN----I am in a position to HONESTLY minister to their needs!

    When the average people of the Holy Land heard that Jesus "was the carpenter's son from Nazareth," they were far more curious than if he were a recent graduate of the Pharisee School at the Temple. That was the key to his position as the Messiah (promised one). The Bible indicates from out of the people would come a Messiah. I am certainly not the Messiah, but I try to copy his ways in my daily journey!

    I "succeeded" as a Minister and the proof is --- being fired twice by a "glorified Southern social club"--one named Noonday Baptist Church, the other Loris First Baptist Church! I went to representing Ministers LIfe Insurance for Eastern NC. I "succeeded" enough to be named Underwriter of the Year by the Rocky Mount Association of Life Underwriters. The comparison would be the Academy Award by your fellow professionals. I "succeeded" even more by not selling any policies or concepts with lies and distortion of what they would do! My "success" in Tree Surgery is to SIMPLY BE ALIVE and not badly injured from the years of cutting trees. In addition, I hired men with problems of a personal nature and customers with the same.

    It has been, and still is, a "life of ministry." I talk with retired neighbors (in their vernacular) about spiritual, personal, and political matters. When they first learned I was a minister in 1968, they shied away! Now, that they know me personally --- we communicate. A neighbor who is a retired minister and his wife still play the role of "Holy Couple." Things quickly change when they come around. People are worried about what they say and do. They begin to play the game of "Church Perfection."

    For better or worse, I try to be real and authentic. That is what I believe Jesus to be --- the "real deal" following God to the best of human abilities with God's help. Being God's only begotten Son got him an extra boost we regular folks don't have---but we are all called to be "Fishers of Men." My "catch" is far bigger than many people think---starting with my "super righteous and guilt-ridden youngest sister." She is of another generation putting on a really big show now --- to cover their wild Playboy living of the 70's.