THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, August 14, 1994 TAG: 9408120018
SECTION: COMMENTARY PAGE: J6 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Letter
LENGTH: Short : 35 lines
I am the daughter of a remarkable man - a minister of religion who taught me that Christ came to Earth to teach us to love one another.
My father was a central figure in our community - not only a minister, but also a volunteer fireman and organizer of the local rescue squad. (He had other talents - dulcimer-making, leather-working, sausage-making, rabbit-raising. . . .).
He married couples, baptized children (who time and time again would cease to cry as soon as he cradled them in his arms - the congregation grew to expect nothing less) and officiated at funerals.
At his own funeral, testimonies to his work - to his helping people discover Christ, to his knack for smoothing out family disputes, to his constant availability, as well as to his wit and intelligence and his love of life and people - were inspirational.
My father was a liberal.
After reading so many letters from people who somehow find ``conservative'' and ``Christian'' to be synonymous and ``liberal'' and ``Christian'' to be mutually exclusive, I can only offer this glimmer of hope: Perhaps the good Lord has provided brick walls in heaven for those conservatives who believe they're the only ones there!
KIRSTY H. DICKSON
Norfolk, Aug. 4, 1994 by CNB