{"id":5179,"date":"2013-10-04T09:00:51","date_gmt":"2013-10-04T16:00:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/?p=5179"},"modified":"2013-10-04T11:27:56","modified_gmt":"2013-10-04T18:27:56","slug":"rev-walker-on-my-deafness-and-blindness","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/rev-walker-on-my-deafness-and-blindness\/","title":{"rendered":"Rev. Walker: On My Deafness and Blindness"},"content":{"rendered":"<style><!--p.padding {padding-left:.5cm;}--><\/style>\n<p><strong>On My Deafness and Blindness<\/strong><br \/>\n<em>The Rev. Robert L. Walker<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Early in my life I collected heroes &#8211; one of music, the other of poetry and prose.  As a child taking piano lessons, I delighted in playing Ludwig van Beethoven\u2019s piano music, composed in 18th century Germany. As a college student, my fancy was caught by John Milton, a 17th century English composer of poetry and other writings.  <\/p>\n<p>Why were they my heroes? Beethoven was not deterred by his increasing deafness, and Milton was undeterred by his increasing blindness.  Both conditions were my lot &#8211; I was born hard of hearing and slowly becoming blind; likewise, I was not to be deterred by either of the two inescapable conditions. <\/p>\n<p>Today, I am privileged to utilize technology that &#8211; while it cannot free me from my deafness and blindness &#8211; can be a bridge to walk across into artificial hearing and seeing. Without it, I would be helplessly deaf and blind, detaching me from the rest of the world.<\/p>\n<p>Such tools were unimaginable in the ages of Milton and Beethoven.  Wonderment fills me in that despite their handicapping conditions, they were not denied the joy in creating their remarkable artistries; however, for one of them\u2014namely John Milton\u2014the limitations of being blind weighed heavily and fearfully, on him. Ultimately, he thrust aside the weight and fear.  In Milton\u2019s famous Italian-style sonnet titled \u201cOn His Blindness\u201d, we view his acceptance of his disappearing eyesight that too often led to unwanted inaction; hence, there came his bold assertion in the sonnet\u2019s last line that \u201cThey also serve who only stand and wait.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>This poem is clearly based on the harsh parable found in <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=247910720\" target=\"_blank\">Matthew 25: 14-30<\/a> that is attributed to Jesus; <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=247910761\" target=\"_blank\">Luke in 19: 12-26<\/a> picks up the theme, but in contradiction to Matthew\u2019s version.  In the sonnet, Milton talks about the darkness surrounding him that probably was a gradual awakening to the reality that began at birth as it did for me, and then engulfed me in 2001. <\/p>\n<p>Milton continued his classical writings that were dictated to his secretary.  Perhaps it was that codependency in the midst of his independent spirit that led Milton to challenge the parable\u2019s implication that an angry God can attack an inactive person (such as a blind one) if good works aren\u2019t forthcoming.  Milton cleverly countered that notion with the realization that his need for help in a dark world was itself a service allowing others to meet the requirement of serving others; hence, \u201cThey also serve who only stand and wait\u201d for assistance.  Let that countering theology be ours whenever anyone of us is providing services for people coping with a disability; that is, they are serving us with that privilege of serving them.  <\/p>\n<p>The gifts of modern technology that I need and utilize were not available for Milton or Beethoven; consequently, I am humbly glad that such services are mine.  They started when I was 11 years old, and after then-known medical concepts surrounding deafness failed, I was then provided with my first hearing aid.<\/p>\n<p>Years later, with the lessening of my eyesight, the Milton darkness closed in on me, but in an age where computers and other aids make my situation tolerable (but not always so). I have been a retired clergyperson since 1995, yet I still care deeply about our Church, its conferences, and every kind of needed ministry.  Recently, I learned that on the PNW Conference\u2019s website I could download the \u201cThe Amen Report\u201d \u2013 newsletters that were distributed to conference attendees last June.  I went online to acquire the documents, only to surrender to the oddities flouncing around in cyberspace.  Try as I might, I could not get the newsletter to be read by my screen-reading software.  <\/p>\n<p>After receiving my complaint, a Conference staff person referred me to Jesse N. Love, our Conference\u2019s print and publications manager.  Success came when he followed my suggestion of formatting the newsletters onto a Word document and pasting it into an e-mail to me.  It was a gift of service by Jesse that I finally could listen to the three Amen Reports.  <\/p>\n<p>From where I sit as a blind and hard-of-hearing fellow, if we as a Conference and as members of our local churches are serious about being \u201cgood and faithful servants\u201d for God, then the many gifts of technology that serve people with disabilities must be employed.  As a matter of course, consultation with those of us in need of assistance must be carried out not just by the Conference, but also by each local church, and not solely for blind or deafened people, but also for persons coping with any form of disability that are a plague to humankind.  <\/p>\n<p>I conclude this article with my Elizabethan-style sonnet written in 2009, telling of my deafness and blindness, titled \u201cThe Child in Me:\u201d <\/p>\n<p><em>It hurt: \u201cYou\u2019re dumb,\u201d said teachers, kids alike<br \/>\nWith gibes and scowls, then turned aside or ran<br \/>\nWhile tears were hid in heart where none could strike;<br \/>\nYet haunt it does that child in me, a man,<br \/>\nFor ears that hear, for eyes that see, I lacked,<br \/>\nAnd suffered taunts from those too deaf, too blind<br \/>\nTo see my mind, to hear my heart that cracked<br \/>\nThose heartless walls they raised around their kind.<br \/>\nWhen walls are shattered, love and wisdom flow<br \/>\nTo temper scorn and hate till born is care<br \/>\nFor hearts and minds, but deaf and blind, to grow<br \/>\nIn wisdom forming love in lives to share.<br \/>\nOh child in me, your yearnings ne\u2019er depart<br \/>\nTill all will see by mind, and hear in heart.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>NOTE: For those who want to learn more about the Church\u2019s ministry with people coping with one or another form of disability, take advantage of the 2014 and 2015 United Methodist Women-Conference Board of Global Ministries Schools of Christian Missions. <\/p>\n<p>Within the three issues to be examined, one of them will be that of the church and people with disabilities with the textbook written by Bishop Peggy A. Johnson from the Philadelphia Area, and the study guide by Lynn Swedberg from the PNW Conference.  <\/p>\n<p>Further, the 2012 General Conference ordered each annual conference to select the theme of disabilities for one of its four annual conferences within the current quadrennium.  Be on the watch for one of our remaining conference sessions to be focused on the issue of the church and people with disabilities.  <\/p>\n<p>There are two books dealing with disabilities that may be of interest for you.  One is \u201cMake a Joyful Silence\u201d, co-authored by Bishop Johnson and me; the second book is \u201cSpeaking Out: Gifts of Ministering Undeterred by Disabilities,\u201d edited by me and as one of the 25 contributing authors dealing with the several forms of disabilities. <\/p>\n<p>Both books can be bought from some book stores and Amazon.com.  Royalties go entirely to The General Board of Global Ministries\u2019 standing committee dealing with deaf, late deafened, hard of hearing, deaf-blind people, and to the U.M. Association of Ministers with Disabilities, an official United Methodist Caucus group. <\/p>\n<p><em><center>The Rev. Robert Walker is a retired pastor from the PNW Conference.<\/center><\/em><\/p>\n<hr>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=3798&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Speaking Out\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/RESOURCES_SpeakingOut.jpg?w=696\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"padding\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.rqmweb.com\/results.asp?q=pnwumc&#038;resID=3798&#038;detail=Y\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Speaking Out<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nSpeaking Out, edited by Robert L. Walker, is a compilation of personal stories written by clergy and lay pastors about their ministries as disabled pastors. While some have found the church to be welcoming, helpful and respectful of their different gifts and abilities, many more have experienced sadness and pain caused by how the church responded to them. This book challenges us to do a better job of including all people in the church, especially differently-abled persons in pastoral leadership.  To reserve this book now, e-mail <a href=\"mailto:ejohanson@pnwumc.org?Subject=Re: Speaking Out\">The Regional Media Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/p>\n<hr>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/channels\" target=\"_blank\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" alt=\"Channels 66\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/Channels_66_cover_149px.jpg?w=696\" \/><\/a><\/td>\n<td>\n<p class=\"padding\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/channels\" target=\"_blank\"><strong>Channels 66 is NOW AVAILABLE<\/strong><\/a><br \/>\nERTs needed in Colorado \u2022 Faith leaders warn of implications of U.S. shutdown \u2022 UM Agency condemns chemical weapons \u2022 Mission u\/5 Columns of Mission \u2022 Paul Jeffrey visits the PNW (schedule) \u2022 Giving to an Advance Project \u2022 Methodist Missionaries in the Congo \u2022 Why We Still March! \u2022 Walker: On My Deafness and Blindness \u2022 The Father&#8217;s Heart \u2022 Musings: Love Notes \u2022 Bishop: Church as a living organism \u2022 Nurturing Elders: Geezer Forums helpful for info, connections \u2022 To subscribe to Channels, e-mail <a href=\"mailto:jlove@pnwumc.org?Subject=Re: Sign me up for Channels!\">channels@pnwumc.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>On My Deafness and Blindness The Rev. Robert L. Walker Early in my life I collected heroes &#8211; one of music, the other of poetry and prose. As a child taking piano lessons, I delighted in playing Ludwig van Beethoven\u2019s piano music, composed in 18th century Germany. As a college student, my fancy was caught [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":51,"featured_media":5184,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[111,6,115],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-5179","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-channels","8":"category-conversation","9":"category-resources"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2013\/10\/IDEAS_Blindness.jpg?fit=600%2C308&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2l75j-1lx","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5179","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/51"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5179"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5179\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5188,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5179\/revisions\/5188"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/5184"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5179"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5179"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pnwumc.org\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5179"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}