Last week a friend from our Bowmanville days kindly let me know that a retired colleague in ministry had been "promoted to glory." Frank Lockhart had also served a United Church congregation in Bowmanville, although it was the one down the street. Frank was not a big fan of the United Church in his latter years and was not bashful about saying so. His theology was more conservative and he felt that the UCC's choices on a number of issues had led to its decline. I am a Jesus guy myself, and staunchly Trinitarian but we differed in outlook and we engaged in spirited and civil conversation on a few occasions. He was smart and articulate so it was a worthwhile exercise.
I liked Frank best when he had his hands dirty, which was often. He was one of the earliest supporters of the Valleys 2000 project in Bowmanville which had the goal of transforming a tangled, garbage-strewn flood plain along Bowmanville Creek into a welcoming place for walkers and fishers and cyclists. He could be found there on many days through the seasons, usually in scuffy jeans and pushing a wheelbarrow. He cut brush and schlepped untold tons of soil and gravel to create trails. He also engaged in the noble work of tree planting. Over time the main trail was paved, memorial forest and butterfly garden planted, and the fish ladder was redeveloped. Frank continued to toil away, year in and year out, most of the time without anyone really aware of what he was up to. He knew the valley like the backs of his calloused hands.
I would say hello as I passed through, and on occasion stop for a brief chat. I admire that he was caring for God's Creation, one wheelbarrow load at a time. I'm not sure whether he was issued a shovel when he reached the Pearly Gates or assured he wouldn't need one. I'm betting he heard a "well done, good and faithful servant."
No comments:
Post a Comment