and find a way to cope with them. They both had analytical minds. They felt they would be able to cope. Besides, there were so many nice people around, the kind of people that had always caused them to stand up for Terraprima. Surely, with the majority of people so friendly, respectful, and appreciative of friendship, Durwin and Canda would get along well. Once again they decided to stay, and to live and plan their church work as though they were staying permanently. Durwin and Canda at this point in their lives could handle sporadic belittlers well. They felt sufficiently secure.
“Nevertheless, the letter and the visit from friends both bringing warnings to the Lawtons, caused them to reflect on still another incident. When they were making arrangements to leave the church at Secundaterra to go to Terraprima, a senior colleague remarked somberly to Durwin, ‘We don’t have any ministers from here go down to that denomination anymore. We have several who have gone down there to other denominations and done well, but not to that one,’ he reemphasized as he shook his head gently, ‘I wish you well.’”
“Some time later Durwin and Canda were to learn of yet another case, years earlier, where a minister coming from the church of Secundaterra was very badly used. I briefly mentioned his case before. He was a fine person, well cultured, and educated in two of the highest caliber seminaries of his time. His wife was equally a fine well cultured, well educated person. They were both gifted in many ways. The best appointments he could get from this church were the pits, where he and his wife didn’t even have a fit place to live. This dedicated, well adjusted couple, since they were still young, and with plenty of time to start over, ‘escaped’ to another denomination with a different system of placement for ministers. In this denomination he did extremely well throughout his long ministry. Among other attainments he was responsible for the building of a very large mega-church complex from zero beginnings, of which he remained the senior minister for several years.
“I wish to add that this is not necessarily to say that one system of placement of ministers is better than another. I do not wish to get into that here. I will simply say it often depends on the character of the people operating the system, and what often long standing prides, prejudices and false concepts they are ruled by.
“From the very beginning of their arrival at their congregation in Terraprima, the Lawton’s could not help but notice that generally the members were going all out to be friendly to them. Durwin had already heard that there had been a difficult relationship there with the previous minister. So he assumed they were determined that their relationship with him would be better. He and Canda responded with friendliness, kindness, and cooperation.
“Soon the life on a higher plane that Durwin and Canda always strived to promote began to rub off and take effect on many. For example, now when there was a fellowship meal served at church for any occasion, the tables were more daintily set, whereas near the beginning of their arrival they were rather slovenly placed. Worship was conducted in a semi-formal manner which allowed for inspiration that comes with an air of dignity, which in turn promotes the awesomeness of God’s presence. Throughout the service, and particularly in the sermon, Durwin concentrated more on meaningful content than on highly animated and excitable action. Most people liked his worship services and were spiritually moved by them. No later than his second Sunday there did he get an enormous response to them by parishioners.
“It became notable how people settled down in the pews when sermon time came. Again for example, one scholarly type woman, on Durwin’s first Sunday there, scrutinized Durwin throughout the whole service. On the second Sunday clutching hymn book in hand, she did so again until about quarter ways into the sermon. Suddenly she relaxed, quickly placed the hymn book on the pew beside her, folded her arms loosely, settled down in the pew more comfortably, and with a smile that showed her pleasure, became totally absorbed in the sermon and the remainder of the service. After only two or three Sundays more of Durwin’s ministry there, by far the majority of the congregation responded in a similarly positive manner. It remained so for approximately two years.
“As I mentioned before, during that time Durwin had occasion to request a letter of reference from the chief administrative officer of the church of the area. In the letter, this officer described Durwin’s ministry as ‘excellent’. At the same time, another letter from an official in high places who often acted on behalf of the church described his performance in all aspects of life as ‘superior.’ Still another official of the church at large with a position of responsibility remarked to a friend who passed it on to Durwin, ‘whatever Durwin is doing in that church, tell him to keep on doing it.’ The response to Durwin’s ministry was excellent.”
Collin paused as the group members listened intently for more. Then he broke the silence with a question, “How then, with a ministry like that did Durwin end up as he did, demoted and in future relegated to small country churches with little potential and a much smaller salary, and eventually so battered and maligned he had to find a way out of that area altogether?”
Leo, who had been listening with joy to the story of Durwin’s brief success and who was now deflated at the obvious outcome, blurted out with his characteristic emotion, “I’ll tell you how it happened, as if you don’t already know,’ he said angrily, ‘the envious rotten belittlers went to work on him, and few if any of the others were wise to them.”
“Right,” said Collin. “In fact they started working on him not far from the beginning in a mild sort of way. In time it intensified, and then, when the belittlers could stand excellence no longer, they toppled him. And as you say, few others of the congregation were wise to them, so there was no understanding type of help for Durwin and Canda.”
Gilda spoke, “I suppose the administration of the church area, with its bias, as it calls it, towards the so called ‘little guy,’ and their ‘down with the so called big shots’, dealt the final belittling blow to Durwin on behalf of the local church?”
“Yes, Gilda, it did,” replied Collin.
“Inadvertently or otherwise, I suppose, “said Gilda.
“Inadvertently ‘and’ otherwise, I would say,” added Collin, emphasizing the ‘and’. “But you can make up your own minds about that yourselves as you hear Durwin’s story.”
Owen looked on in grim silence as a cloud of doubt enveloped his hope for his future. Would he, or -would he not ever find a future where his gifted spirit would be free from the shackles of belittlers, he thought in his literary mind; a freedom that -would allow him to give to the world to his fullest extent the abundance it has to offer; freedom to receive what the world has in store for a person who gives his best- dignity, respect, acceptance, things like that; things that are a far cry from the oppression, rivalry and mental cruelty of belittlers.
Collin read Owen’s face. “Don’t be too discouraged yet, Owen,” he said. “You are young, and Terraprima is big. You have ample time to find your way. Durwin was older, and time ran out on him. It won’t be a bed of roses for you, but you will learn from this group how to better your chances. Be optimistic, Owen. You have done well so far, haven’t you?”
“Yes, I have,” Owen said, as he perked up a little. “Sure, I have done well in spite of all the belittlers. And the cautious optimism that sometimes settles in on me will eventually replace my grave doubts and will in time serve me well. It won’t be a shock to me now when I don’t find that bed of roses.”
“Good,” said Collin as he smiled in return.
He continued, “Without further delay I will relate to you some of the devious trickery of the belittlers in the local church. At first the tactics were passive in nature, but later as Durwin made progress, passivity was replaced by hostility. The devious tactics of belittlers are numerous, so as I tell you the basics of the story of Durwin and Canda, I will include enough of them to give you
