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Sad Day in the Neighborhood
As I ponder Mother’s Day and all the activities of children in the month of May, I am reminded that my mentor and friend, Fred Rogers died several months ago. I grew up on Fred’s show before it became nationally syndicated as “Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood.”
Mr. Rogers is dead. It's a sad day in the neighborhood.
The man with the friendly face who came into his living room, took time to take his coat off and put on a sweater his mother made, changed into tennis shoes, and then looked into the camera and talked to kids about anger, fear, love and kindness - this man whose favorite verse was “blessed are the pure in heart …” - this “pure heart” is gone.
Fred Rogers had humility in the truest sense of the word. He fit John Ruskin’s 1800 definition: “I do not mean by humility, doubt of your own powers. Really great people have a curious feeling that greatness is not IN them but THROUGH them. And they see something divine in every other human, and are endlessly, foolishly, incredibly merciful.” THAT is humility. And that was Mr. Rogers.
Mr. Rogers once was brought to the White House to be honored by Mrs. Clinton for his great work with children through television. He spoke to the group and was then congratulated by Mrs. Clinton who got whisked away to the next meeting.
When he was about to leave the room, he heard one of the military guards whisper, “Thanks, Mr. Rogers.” Mr. Rogers went over to him and noticed his eyes full of tears. “Thanks for what?” he inquired.
“Well, sir,” the crisply dressed guard began, “as I listened to you today, I started to remember my grandfather's brother. I haven't thought about him in years. I was only seven when he died, but just before that, he gave me his favorite fishing rod. I’ve just been thinking, maybe that's why I like fishing so much and why I like to show the kids in my neighborhood all about it.”
Mr. Rogers concluded that he did not come to Washington to be honored; he did not come to get an award; he did not come to instruct the television industry - he came, he concluded, “to nourish the memory of that military guard’s great uncle.”
And that made it a good day for Mr. Rogers.
Hopefully the memory of this ordained minister who focused on the needs of children and never looked back - hopefully his memory will make for many beautiful days in many neighborhoods.
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Lynnewood United Methodist Church
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