Preface to the quote from Saint Nikolai: As I stood near a conversation concerning the "class" of people who shop and work at WalMart, one of the individuals surprisingly turned asked if I shop at WalMart. I replied: Yes, I do and also at other stores.
'Why would you shop at there?' she asked.
'Why would you shop at there?' she asked.
'To be with the people I grew up with' I replied.
LEARN TO LOVE AND RESPECT THE LOWLY SIMPLE PEOPLE
by Saint Nikolai Velimirovich
[and an anecdote about a man named Bob]
Such as these are the most on earth: such as these are the most in the Kingdom of Heaven. In them, there is no pride, i.e., the basic madness from which the souls of the rich and the powerful of this world suffer. They carry out their duty in this world perfectly and yet it appears to them amusing when someone praises them for it, while the self-seeking men of this world seek praise for all their work and often, it is imperfectly completed.
St. Alexander was an eminent philosopher and he left everything, hid himself from exalted society, the praise of the world and mingled with the lowliest and the simplest of men, as a charcoal-burner among charcoal-burners. Instead of former praises and honors, he endured with rejoicing that children ran after him and laughed at him because of his sootiness and raggedness. However, Alexander was not the only one who liked to live with the lowly and simple. Many kings and princes, learning of the sweetness of Christ's Faith, removed the crowns from their heads and fled from aristocratic vanity to be among the simple people. Did not He alone, the King of Kings, the Lord our Christ appear among shepherds and fishermen?"
~ Saint Nikolai
The words of St Nikolai perfectly describe Bob (pictured below) and therefore a direct hit to the heart with me because I grew up around many alcoholics, lowly and simple people for a good portion of my life which moved me to add this anecdote.
ABOUT BOB
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Bob worked for me long before I was ordained an Orthodox priest. I immediately felt strange the first and only time I heard myself say that he worked for me since I could not relate to him as an employee nor myself as an employer. I always referred to him as "Bob who helps me" but he turned out to be much more than a helper and did much more than that for me.
Bob was somewhat younger than me, lowly and simple as St. Nikolai puts it. To put it mildly, Bob was an abused child in an adult body. Bob never spoke of his past but on inquiry he very briefly and in one sentence related to me that he was beaten as a child by his father. The extent of the brutality I learned from an acquaintance that knew him far longer than me. His distorted speech, his severely labored effort to communicate and slave-like gait, anchored the story of his past and evoked such compassion that the who, what or why of it, required no investigation. By the grace of God, the unbridled and abundant joy of childhood was not only undamaged but freely given to all who encountered him.
On occasion, Bob would display a form of anger, much like a young child chastising an adult. On one occasion he openly censured his close and long time older friend Terry because he chose not to attend his mother's funeral.
Terry, along with his dog, most often accompanied us on a task but only as observers. Terry casually defended his absence from the funeral to me and Bob with, 'mom didn't mind'. Sadly, Terry frequently made comments that gave the impression that he loved his dog more than his mother. "Mama Dog", as he called her was an overweight, mix of Beagle and....(?) It was more than obvious that Terry was also molded by a background of possible psychological injury.
Bob could work so hard that quantities of white saliva would quickly collect in the corners of his mouth. The first and only time I witnessed Bob "slaving" in such a manner, I only too vividly envisioned, with heartache, a horrid, damaging unyielding shackle placed on him at some time in his young life. I immediately asked him to stop working and to sit. I never let him work that hard again.
Bob was somewhat younger than me, lowly and simple as St. Nikolai puts it. To put it mildly, Bob was an abused child in an adult body. Bob never spoke of his past but on inquiry he very briefly and in one sentence related to me that he was beaten as a child by his father. The extent of the brutality I learned from an acquaintance that knew him far longer than me. His distorted speech, his severely labored effort to communicate and slave-like gait, anchored the story of his past and evoked such compassion that the who, what or why of it, required no investigation. By the grace of God, the unbridled and abundant joy of childhood was not only undamaged but freely given to all who encountered him.
On occasion, Bob would display a form of anger, much like a young child chastising an adult. On one occasion he openly censured his close and long time older friend Terry because he chose not to attend his mother's funeral.
Terry, along with his dog, most often accompanied us on a task but only as observers. Terry casually defended his absence from the funeral to me and Bob with, 'mom didn't mind'. Sadly, Terry frequently made comments that gave the impression that he loved his dog more than his mother. "Mama Dog", as he called her was an overweight, mix of Beagle and....(?) It was more than obvious that Terry was also molded by a background of possible psychological injury.
Bob could work so hard that quantities of white saliva would quickly collect in the corners of his mouth. The first and only time I witnessed Bob "slaving" in such a manner, I only too vividly envisioned, with heartache, a horrid, damaging unyielding shackle placed on him at some time in his young life. I immediately asked him to stop working and to sit. I never let him work that hard again.
Bob approached most everyone "tail wagging"; a tribute to humility. At times, with some individuals, which only he seemed to discern, Bob would measure his distance, head bowed, remain expressionless and silent.
People like Bob are like uncut gems without facets or polish yet emit a most brilliant and specular promise.
Are we to think that such injustice, such harm, such inhumanity, is known only to the ear of a few who share brief encounters with what we call life/death? Are we to believe there is no judge, no restitution, no recompense, no renewal over such time-filled assaults on beauty and love?
I will never forget Bob in my heart and prayers. I can still hear him agonizingly suffer to simply form and release words.
I will never forget Bob in my heart and prayers. I can still hear him agonizingly suffer to simply form and release words.
Photographer unknown
- Bob would light up the room with his beautiful smile. I for one looked forward to that everyday as it made me smile as well.
- The world has lost a true angel! Such a friendly, humble soul. We were blessed to have Bob in our lives and will miss his beautiful smile and gentle nature.
- My children, loved Bob, as did our entire church. His life was a blessing to others.
- The thing about Bobby was the peace and joy that emanated from him during all events in his life. This is just the way that Bob was. .... his love and respect for the Lord was obvious.
- I helped Bob get around town and helped him fulfill his needs any way I could. What Bob didn't know was that I needed him way more than he ever needed me. He was the one person that would always listen no matter what I was rambling on about. He would then deliver his genuine smile and you immediately knew that everything would be okay. He was a wonderful man and a good friend to many. He is loved and will be dearly missed.
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