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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 1986-07-30, Page 14THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, JULY 30, 1986. PAGE 15. From the Minister's Study Keeping the thrill of discovery of a little child BY PASTOR DOUGLAS ZEHR BRUSSELS* MENNONITE FELLOWSHIP Gypsy Smith, a nineteenth century evangelist, died on a journey in true style of his life in his 87th year. Called to preach at 17, he was simple, original and colourful. One of his favourite saysing was, ‘I was born in a field; don’t put me in a flower pot’. Gypsy was an interesting char­ acter who would have said he liked flowers but not botany, religion but nottheology. When he was advised to learn how to sing from his diaphragm, Gypsy replied that he didn’t want to sing from his diaphragm but from his heart. When asked about the secret of his freshness and vigor even after becoming a senior citizen, he responded simply, ‘I have never lost the wonder’. Gypsy Smith had the heart of a child. He never lost the wonder. Perhaps that is part of the meaning of Jesus’ words when he said, ‘unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven’. Children have not lost the wonder. They have not been here long enough to get used to it. They still have a sense of surprise - anything can happen, everything is new. We say that at five they have all the questions, but by eighteen they know all the an­ swers. With a child, every turn of the road may hold a glad discovery. The most common, humdrum day is glorified by the gift of imagina­ tion. Someone has said that, that is the way it should be since life is one-fourth fact and three-fourths fantasy. Whereelsebut in a child’s imagination can one be Evil There seems to be no time to walk in the park, to sit by the river or a camp fire, ‘just thinking’. Every­ thing is organized, supervised, planned, programmed and corre­ lated. We don’t encourage our children to ‘play’. They need to join a team and play in a league, to win of course. We don’t walk, but rather we take organized hikes. If we run we need the latest in jogging equipment. We don’t wander along, watching birds - we join a club and keep records. And we lose the wonder of it. We lose the wonder because too many of us become childish instead of child­ like. I want to publicly testify of the refreshing challenge I received to my spirit last week as I participated with the 100 youngster that were involved in the Brussels Kids’ Corner ‘86 program sponsored by the churches of Brussels. As the youngsters enthusias­ tically sang the chorus of our theme Former Donnybrook resident dies at Clinton Knieval in the back yard, Wayne Gretzky, Andre Dawson or George Bell, an Olympic gold medalist or a business tycoon dealing in cattle, oil wells or stocks and bonds, and all in one afternoon? But all too soon and sooner now than ever, children lose the wonder. A magazine article asks the question, ‘What happened to the magic of childhood?’ Today’s youngsters become cynical, fed- up, sophisticated beiore they reach their teens. In our video age they have seen it all. What could possibly surprise them? Perhaps the cute saying, ‘We are too soon old and too late smart’, although true, need to be revised. ‘Too smart too soon’ might better describe the plight of our times. But children are not the ones to blame. Adults of our time have no time to wonder, to reflect, or to meditate about anything. We must always be ‘doing something’.. IONA MAY JEFFERSON Iona May Jefferson, formerly of Donnybrook, passed away Thurs­ day, July 24,1986 at Clinton Public Hospital. She was 85 years of age. For many years the late Mrs. Jefferson was correspondent for the Blyth Standard for the Donny­ brook area. Born Iona May McClinchey, she married Charles Jefferson. He predeceased her. Surviving are one daughter, Elaine Campbell and her husband Frank, of London; andtwosons, Wesley, and his wife Eileen of Donnybrook and Donald and his wife of Clinton. Also surviving is a brother, Gordon McClinchey of Blyth. Ten grandchildren and one great grandchild also survive. She was predeceased by two sisters, Kate, Mrs. Charles Robin­ son and Esther, Mrs. Charles Potter and four brothers, Henry, David, Wesley and Sidney McClin­ chey. The funeral service was held from the Ball and Falconer Funeral Home, Clinton on Saturday, July 26 at 1 p.m. Interment was in Greenhills Cemetery, Lucknow, Ont. Memorial donations to the Clinton Public Hospital or the charity of your choice were accept­ ed. song, I felt my child spirit of wonder being excited within. Even in my thirties, I found myself entering into the song joyfully and honestly: ‘I’m just achild, my life is still before me, I just can’t wait to see what God has for me. But, I know that I will trust Him and I’ll wait to see what life will be for me’. People get excited about a lot of things, whether it’s a trip to Wonderland, an exciting game of baseball at the park or the success of our athletes at the Common­ wealth Games. But something which thrilled me more was to have 1 Blyth Christian ® Reformed Church HIGHWAY4, BLYTH Rev. RogerGelwicks Worship Services 10.00a.m. and 8:00 p.m. SundaySchool 11:00a.m. The Church of the “ Back to God Hour” and “Faith 20” Back toGod Hour 10:30a.m. CKNX, Sunday Faith 205:00a.m. weekdays, Global T.V. ALL VISITORS WELCOME Please contribute to use ® Canada! HELP BREAK THE PATTERN OF POVERTY the opportunity to participate in Kids’ Corner ‘86.1 know it was an opportunity to share meaningfully in individual lives a message that I believe has lasting significance, ultimate meaning and eternal endurance. But just as important as sharing with the youngsters was the experience of being able to receive from them. I experienced a renewal of the sense of wonder and expectancy of a child within myself and I want to say thanks to the children of Brussels and surround­ ing area. I don’t think that there is anything quite like it. A 56 Sparks Ottawa K1P 5B1 (613) 234-6827 J BUSINESS DIRECTORY MSP DEALER Farm Drainage Tubing •4” -12” Perf. or Plain Bauer Farm & Garden Brussels 887-6493 or 887-6575 Wm. E. Hallahan & Sons Const. Ltd. R.R. 3, Blyth ROQ.QQQQ ’Road building •Bulldozing »Excavating & LMjaw grading \ —-r © Bill Bromley , Electric LONDESBORO PHONE 523-4506 1-800-265-9255 < I. D. #3648 > Brian Bromley W 523-9483 z Brad Bromley . 523-9308 [24 Hour Emergency Service Ward & Uptigrove Chartered Accountants Listowel Mitchell R.B. C.D. R.E C.W. Brouse, C.A. R.H. Loree, C.A. G.J. Martin. C.A. R. C. Roswell, C.A 291-3040 348-8412 Karcher, C.A. Newell, C.A. Uptigrove, C.A. 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