“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 2: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination. Cleon E. Spencer

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“THEY” Cripple Society Volume 2: Who are “THEY” and how do they do it? An Expose in True to Life Narrative Exploring Stories of Discrimination - Cleon E. Spencer

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He had to reach up to that limb with the saw. Consequently he sawed into it from its side rather than its top. About two thirds of the way through, the weight of the limb caused it to snap at the saw mark, but only partly. The result was the saw blade was critically jammed in the cut. Durwin saw the predicament and the possibility of the saw blade being broken.

      “It became obvious as the man twisted frantically to free the blade, that he was not used to this kind of work. Durwin rushed to his aid. ‘Hold it,’ said Durwin calmly and helpfully, ‘you have to push that limb back up into its original place before you can get the saw out without breaking the blade. The man’s face immediately grew somber with the corners of his mouth dropping noticeably as though Durwin had done him some grave injustice.

      “One would think I had shot his very dear mother, thought Durwin as he saw the man’s face so distraught. Then he quickly said to the man in as relaxed a manner as he could under the tension, ‘well I guess I know these things because I grew up with lots of forest around me. It was a part of our growing up to learn the techniques of things like this such as they are.’

      “The man’s countenance did not change an iota. Durwin immediately added, ‘I guess you can teach me lots of things you learned in the environment in which you grew up.’

      “Still there was no change in the man’s face. Durwin grabbed a rake, pushed up the limb which in turn freed the saw blade. The man pulled the saw down, handed it to Durwin and walked away, far too proud and oversensitive to handle such a situation rationally. He never worked with the saw or near Durwin for the remainder of the day.

      “But there was a lot of good work done that day. Durwin and Canda did much of it, because as I said, they were accustomed to that kind of work. Some people appreciated it. However, the mood of the man who tried to work with the saw spread through a portion of the work team. It would be hard to get them back again to continue and finish that particular job of tidying the landscape. In fact it would prove impossible with some of them. Later, much later, Durwin and Canda would continue the job themselves, much to their own detriment. I will tell you the details later. For now I wish to point out how sensitive was the pride of these people.”

      “Hollow, undisciplined pride again,” remarked Donna Coyne. “Hollow, but with a stubborn enough crust not to let anything new enter into their minds.”

      “Childish enough not to let anyone be superior even in such a little way as cutting a limb off a tree,” added Gilda Emerson.

      “And to think,” said Albin Anders, “that a psychiatrist tried to tell me I was too sensitive to the slights of other people. What about the sensitivity of these people?”

      “Right you are, Albin,” said Collin. “You remember that in future if someone tries to make you believe you are too sensitive to a few slights from belittlers. The slights are many, and often so subtle they can hardly be described. They are even sometimes hard to decipher from things that well meaning people say and do to you. These subtle slights are delivered by people so sensitive that the least little thing will trigger off their pride and envy and all the harm they can inflict because of it.”

      “Well taken,” said Albin confidently.

      “But be sure, Albin,” Collin cautioned, “to learn and practice discerning the well meant remarks and overtures of good people from the often subtle, sly, underhanded belittlements of those who mean to bring you down. We all make mistakes in this. It isn’t always easy. But a true friend will make allowances for mistakes of that kind, especially after you have yourself recognized it.”

      “Thanks Collin,” said Albin appreciatively, “that’s very helpful.”

      “You’re very welcome, Albin, and now let’s get on with the story,” said Collin. “One day Durwin received a telephone call from the chairperson of the board of a large not-for-profit community organization that did some of their work with the cooperation of the churches. This chairperson asked Durwin if he would serve as a member of the board of directors of the organization. Durwin was still feeling new to the situation and wanted to please his church board to whatever degree possible without losing his own personhood. So he told the man he would talk it over with the appropriate committee of his church.

      “When he next met with the committee whose duty it was to assist the minister to plan his work and priorities, he brought the matter before them. They stalled and avoided a decision on it. They said they would think it over and let him know at the next meeting. At the next meeting they told him they had decided he shouldn’t accept the position. There might be a conflict of interest with the church.”

      Gilda interrupted the story. “So they made their decision between meetings and away from Durwin’s presence did they?”

      “Yes, they did,” replied Collin, “and Durwin wasn’t ready to quarrel with them or put them in their place yet. So he dropped the matter and informed the chairperson of the organization that he wouldn’t be accepting the position.”

      “Too bad,” said Gilda, “I think he should have gone ahead.”

      “Well,” said Brett Culver, “I think he shouldn’t have even consulted the committee on it.”

      “I know how you can feel that way folks,” responded Collin, “but a minister’s life and work is supposed to be supported and helped by committees and boards. Durwin thought at the time they would support him on it. It would have been a good thing for the church to have its minister serving in the community. In hind-sight he later realized he should have gone ahead with it without asking. But take note that before a year was up, several of the church committee members were serving on the board of that same organization.”

      “Ha, Ha,” said Leo, laughingly, “no conflict of interest with the church now.”

      “Not a bit,” said Collin disgustedly, “but to them it now meant they had outsmarted Durwin and were superior to him again. However, before long another organization not connected with the church, the area chapter of the Red Cross contacted Durwin to sit on one of its boards which met weekly for a luncheon, followed by the work of reviewing hundreds of applications for assistance to needy people sent in from several counties. This committee was especially busy during the colder months. Without discussing it with his church committee Durwin served on this Red Cross committee for more than a year and a half. He served it well and regularly without any absence and was asked to continue. He left it only when he needed the time to pursue a demanding continuing education course that would help people with a different need and further the work of his local church. I will elaborate on that shortly.”

      Continuing with the story, Collin led the group into another incident. “Durwin could see that at least for the present he could make no more headway with the beautification of the church exterior property. He would approach the matter again at a later date. In the meantime he turned to another aspect of preparing the infra-structure for church growth. This also would be one of the more secondary preparations, as was the tidying of the land.

      “As it was, the local church newsletter and the Sunday worship bulletin were third rate productions; scrappy looking to say the least. These could be greatly improved with the use of a photo copier and the tasteful and creative use of clip art. In addition, from his exceptionally large collection of books and various church resources, Durwin was accustomed to utilizing litanies and other items of worship and also keeping files of ideas from these resources. Durwin was one to spend a great deal of his own money on worthwhile church resources. He was a firm believer in the business slogan, ‘you have to spend money to make money,’ so he had long ago adapted this slogan to church work. He didn’t see church as a business, but the same basic rule that applied for any undertaking

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