posted by:
mimi (
reply)
post date:
10.18.06 (7:42 pm)
ah, dave, we never stop learning, do we...
xoxo
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
10.18.06 (7:45 pm)
The world could use a few more Donnies. :-)
posted by:
sudeshpoojari (
reply)
post date:
10.18.06 (8:36 pm)
Give him a big hugg from me too
posted by:
seochris (
reply)
post date:
10.18.06 (10:35 pm)
seochris
Donnie is the child hearted man. Rare to find these days. I'm sure he is greater in the sight of God than many of us.
My birthday greetings to him. God help u pastor to bring many more like these to the true love of Christ.
posted by:
radiohead (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (7:26 am)
Very inspiring story, amazing how we lose sight of some of the most important things in life...Good post.
posted by:
FinalyFree (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:08 am)
That story definitely merits a "bless his heart" and you Pastor deserve kudos as well, sure as a minister there are certain responsibilites to your congregation but it's very obvious you care about Donnie and I'm sure others. Glad to know you're out there doing things the right way :)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:42 am)
Reply to: mimi
You are right. Used to be, I thought the greatest teaching would come from educated and refined professionals. Now I realize it is a little child. Guess I should have listened to Jesus to start with.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:45 am)
Reply to: babe4jesus55
I think there are a lot of Donnies out there. The problem is we think we are too smart, too refined, too "good" to listen and learn from such a person.
Innocence, Donnie's kind of innocence, I find compelling. He's not smart, but in a great way he is a highly worthwhile friend. The things I worry about seldom cross his mind. People, little things that make a difference to people- these are important to Donnie. Like I said, he's a great friend to have.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:46 am)
Reply to: sudeshpoojari
I'll do it. And, I'm not too comfortable hugging people, but I'll do it for you!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:49 am)
Reply to: LadyG
This "getting older and wiser" really works. Used to be, I thought I had so much to offer the world. Smugly, I quietly thought the world would be blessed by me. Now, into the second half of my life journey, I am coming to realize that others have so much more to offer to me, that people like Donnie are there to guide me in this journey. I remember not so long ago simply feeling sorry for someone like Donnie. Not any more.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:52 am)
Reply to: seochris
You are so right. When asked who was greatest in the Kingdom, Jesus showed them a little child. Is not it a real shame that we, as adults, work so had to eliminate all evidence of child-likeness in ourselves. Perhaps, we need to work just as hard to hang onto that quality.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (9:57 am)
Reply to: FinalyFree
Please pass those kudos along to someone else. Donnie was hanging out here at this church before I came along. Well, he was a member long ago, but he left when there was a split in the congregation. About 5 or 6 years ago, he came back. What I've tried to instill in this church is a sense of loving community, where everyone is just loved as they come. Now, 6 years into the process, the church is a mixed blessing. We have not had the numerical gains in membership and attendance that are needed for my ministry to be labeled a "success", and that troubles me. But, my goodness, what a great experience to get together with these people and just enjoy one another. Donnie is important to that, of course.
I hope your church is doing well.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (10:03 am)
Reply to: radiohead
Those quite important things of life- we are often so blind, aren't we? So many people laugh at folks like Donnie, instead of appreciating them. I was at the hospital the other day when some of his coworkers came in. It was nice of them to visit. But, I heard a couple of them refer to him as "Hollywood". They call him Hollywood at work, an obvious joke at his appearance. So, whenever they would speak to me of "Hollywood", I made it a distinct matter to reply, "You mean Donnie?". The speakers would stop in midsentence and say, "...uh, yeah...". This man, and as a matter of fact everybody, deserves better than to be laughed at for something they cannot help. In my opinion, he was a much better looking person than those guys who visited, in their ties and expensive haircuts and ugly attitudes.
Loving- we just can't go wrong when we do it. Right?
posted by:
FinalyFree (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (10:14 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
I think you sell yourself short sometimes, Pastor--but I'll extend the kudos for what you're doing at your church and with your congregation! My church is improving, slightly. There's still bruised feelings and some resentment but I pray that's slowly falling by the wayside. It's hard for anyone to deny the God given talent of our new Pastor, having acknowledged that fact I hope many more come to see that as the blessing I feel he and his family have been as opposed to how 'drastic' the changes are.
posted by:
bawdy (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (10:51 am)
My prayers go out to Donnie, bless his heart.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
10.19.06 (6:42 pm)
What a lousy way for a guy's life to wind down. Thank God you're all there for each other.
posted by:
girlpower (
reply)
post date:
10.20.06 (7:27 am)
Sounds like a great guy, he is an inspiration! Thank you for sharing. Hope he can fight the cancer. :(
posted by:
69whisper (
reply)
post date:
10.21.06 (4:02 pm)
my all prayers for him. so sad to read this.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.24.06 (6:34 am)
Reply to: bawdy
By way of update, Donnie is doing better. He has two more weeks of antibiotics, which requires that he be transferred to another facility. Then he will be going home. And his mom is much better- even walking around. So, prayers work.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.24.06 (6:35 am)
Reply to: 69whisper
Sad- well yes. And inspiring. While Donnie is very transparent with how he is dealing with matters, he is also surprisingly strong. And he is doing much better now. Thanks for caring.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.24.06 (6:39 am)
Reply to: girlpower
All men over 50 should be checked annually for prostate cancer. Donnie has not lived in a home environment that encouraged him to do so, and now what could have been treated has become deadly. It did not have to be this way. Those of us blessed with more ability to reason should take care of ourselves accordingly.
Looks like the next couple of years will be rough for Donnie. Fighting cancer is brutal. But who knows, maybe Donnie will win.
posted by:
bronwynj (
reply)
post date:
10.26.06 (10:54 pm)
Thank-you for being kind to Donnie. I feel that kindness is the most important thing there is.
There have been miraculous cures from cancer, maybe Donnie will experience one? Lots of vegetables every day could only help.
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
10.27.06 (7:12 am)
Reply to: bronwynj
He is coming home today, after 4+ weeks of hospitalization. He called yesterday wanting to know if I would give him a ride. Of course. I'm not sure how they intend to treat his cancer, and he is rather confused also. It's challenging for an adult who is considered competent, yet so severely limited as Donnie. He does not understand many things, and he has little help.
A mission group at our church, speerheaded by the women, are adopting Donnie and his brother for Christmas. I feel we will be able to offer some significant help.
And you are quite right- enough miracles occur that we have plenty of reason to be hopeful for Donnie. And I'll encourage him to eat his vegetable. First he has to learn to cook- his mom never taught him, as far as I know.
