Stanley Ellin: Mysterious Friend by Chuck Fager
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Among Friends Edltor·M•n•ger Vinton Deming Asslst•nt Editor Melissa Kay Elliott Art Director Making the Most of It Barbara Benton Or•phlc Designer Daniel Leisen Advertising M•n•ger got home from work one evening in late October and settled Tim Back myself on my front porch steps for a few relaxing minutes. The Clrcul•tlon M•n•ger late afternoon sun still had some warmth, and I rejoiced in the Carolyn Terrell I Advertising •nd Clrcul•tlon Asslst•nt abundant display of fall flowers on our block. Neighborhood children Gay Nicholson were playing a noisy game of street hockey. My own two boys-their Typesetting Services James Rice and Denise-Nanette Robinson discarded bikes blocking the sidewalk-busied themselves making Secret•rl•l Services mudpies near the front curb, eyeing the hockey game enviously, and Jeanne G. Beisel Bookkeeper dreaming of being old enough to play in the street. James Neveil The moment was too special to miss . I reached inside the front door, picked up the morning mail, and settled again on the step to Volunteers Jane Burgess, Frank Bjornsgaard, Emily Conlon, read. The results of the day's mail delivery, at first glance, were and Amy Weber discouraging-nothing but "junk mail": some coupons from a local supermarket, an announcement that my wife was an "instant Bo•rd of M•n•gers 1985-1988: Teresa J. Engeman (Secretary), Elizabeth winner" of a free gift (redeemable after a two-hour drive to view a B. Watson resort property); several appeals addressed to people who moved 1986-1989: JennieAllen, De!m Bratis, Helen Morgan from our house years ago; and seven (yes , full-color holiday Brooks, Mark Cary, Sol A. Jacobson, Leonard seven) Kenworthy, Mary Mangelsdorf, Linen McCurry catalogues. (Clerk), Janet Norton, Elizabeth S. Williams My first response was outrage. It isn't fair ... they have no right 1987-1990: Frank Bjornsgaard, Emily Conlon (Assistant Clerk), Mary Howarth, Marcia Paullin, to invade my privacy like this ... I didn't ask for any of these William D. Strong (Treasurer), Allen Terrell, catalogues ... what's the world coming to! (I also felt some Mary Wood sympathy for the poor postal worker who had to deliver all this Honor•ry M•n•gers clutter.) Eleanor Stabler Clarke, Mildred Binns Young I took some deep breaths, had a moment of Quaker silence, and in FRIENDS JOURNAL (ISSN 0016-1322) was a more positive mood began to leaf through the glossy catalogues. established in 1955 as the successor to The My mood began to elevate. In one entitled Herrington, The Friend (1827- 1955) and Friends l ntelligencer (1844- 1955). It is associated with the Religious Enthusiasts' Catalog I could order an "Instant-On Radar Detector" Society of Friends, and is a member of the for my car for $329 (just right for those nights when one has to Associated Church Press. make it to two committee meetings in different parts of town). • FRIENDS JOURNAL iS published monthly by Williams-Sonoma, A Catalog for Cooks, offered an electric Glacee Friends Publishing Corporation, 1501 Cherry St., Belgique for $275. (Can you imagine what a hit this would be at a Philadelphia, PA 19102-1497. (215) 241-7277. Second-class postage paid at Philadelphia, PA. potluck supper: unlimited soft ice cream in flavors of one's choice!). • Subscriptions: one year $15, two years $29, And a real bargain (only $12.50) in a booklet called Solutions, three years $43. Add $6 per year for postage ''products that make life easier'' -an item called a Doze Alarm outside United States, its "possessions," Canada, and Mexico. Foreign remittances should Beeper, which "rests lightly behind either ear and sounds an alarm if be in U.S. dollars or adjusted for currency your head nods forward past a pre-set point. .. " (a great help on differential. Sample copies $1 each; back issues First-day mornings at meeting ... , need I say more?). $2 each. • Information on and assistance with As often happens, my reading was interrupted. Mike Ayres advertising is available on request. Appearance bounced a hockey puck off the back windshield of our car and I of any advertisement does not imply dashed over to assess the damages; and the mudpie chefs then needed endorsement by FRIENDS JouRNAL. Copyright © 1987 by Friends Publishing baths before dinner. In the rush of events I left the mail on the Corporation. Reprints of articles available at porch. nominal cost. Permission should be received Later, after the boys were in bed, I went out to collect their bikes before reprinting excerpts longer than 200 words. Available in microfilm from University and discovered that the holiday catalogues were gone. So much for the Microfilms International. opportunity to complete my Christmas shopping in October. Maybe I'll get another chance next year. And now, on the subject of important mail: please accept an apology from our printer for the late delivery of the October issue of Postm•ster: FRIENDS JouRNAL. Future issues (this one too, we trust) should arrive send 8ddress ch•nges to shortly before or close to the first of the month of our cover date. Friends Journ•l, 1501 Cherry St., Phll•delphl•, PA 19102·1497. 2 November 1987 F'IuENDS JOURNAL November 1987 FRIENDS Volume 33, No. 14 JOURNAL Features Departments 6 Friends and the Homeless 2 Among Friends Marjorie Hope and James Young In what special ways might Friends address the problem? 4 Forum 5 VIewpoint 10 No Room at the Inn Jennie Allen 29 Book Reviews Friends in Westchester County become involved with day-to-day needs. 34 News of Friends 12 On the Street: Seeking Solutions 34 Bulletin Board Clifton Gamble 36 Milestones How has public policy contributed to a growing problem of homelessness? 38 Calendar 16 Praying 38 Classified Dorothy T. Samuel ~ How can we tell when God is listening to us? ~ a:~ 17 A Ufe Uved With Grace ..:! Caroline Cherry " A glimpse of a 19th-Century Friend, Ann Price Gibson 19 Some Enriching Readings on the Ufe of Jesus Leonard S. Kenworthy A bibliographic essay discussing 16 useful references for Friends Children's Books (see pages 26-28) 23 Stanley Ellln, Mysterious Friend The Homeless Chuck Fager (see pages 6-15) Reflections on a time spent with the Quaker mystery writer 26 Children's Books Give Us Hope Amy Weber Brief reviews of books that bring us laughter and lift our hearts Cover photo by Daniel Leisen FRIENDS JOURNAL November 1987 3 Forum to doctors especially skillful with medica Back to the Light tion, and to effective support groups such Jonah's Dilemma as the National Alliance for the Mentally On April 22, the adult study group of Both Larry Miller's Ill (NAMI, 1901 N. Fort Myer Dr., Suite ll Jl IIU\IAI liI article "Spiritual 500, Arlington, VA 22209, [703] Atlanta (Ga.) Friends Meeting met to Aspects of Depression" share perceptions of the message each 524-7600), and its state and local received from reading the book of Jonah. and the two ac chapters. companying articles The Bible says that God asked Jonah to I learned these past two years that it is go to Nineveh, the capital of Assyria on suicide (FJ 9/1) possible, by the grace of God, to go were very interesting, Israel's deadly enemy-and "speak out through great darkness, and emerge back against it." Jonah tried to avoid deliver and I commend you into the Light. And having the Light of for publishing on the meeting as a constant beacon is vital. ing God's message because he was con these rather unpopular vinced God would not really destroy the subjects in such a forthright manner. I city. His efforts to avoid God's command Dimitri Mihalas were to no avail, and after he gets have struggled with depression most of Urbana, Ill. "swallowed by a large fish for three days my adult life. About two years ago I ex and three nights" he reluctantly goes to perienced a " major depressive episode" Just a quick note to tell you that the Nineveh and tells the inhabitants of -words that don't begin to communicate article "Through The Darkness, Back to God's intent to destroy that very large the unspeakable agony it is. The next The Light," has and continues to draw city in 40 days. The people believed what year was utter misery, during which the ·response from many people. Each day he told them and after they truly changed wish to simply die and be done with it all the mail brings letters from people who their evil ways, God did not punish them beca~e stronger and stronger. want to share a support group or form after all. During that year neither traditional one. I am overwhelmed. I had no idea The discussion finally focused on psychotherapy ("talk") nor medication that the issue of suicide was so prevalant Jonah's dilemma of whether or not to did much good, the latter because we had and widespread. follow the leading of the Spirit. Each of not yet discovered an effective tricyclic. I am in the process of gathering all the us has had occasions to determine Where I did get help was from the loving information I can to help the people who whether or not to follow God's command support of my wife, strong encouragement are writing in. I am also asking others to speak out when it would be unpopular and reassurance from my psychiatrist, and for help in obtaining information. to do so. Several members of the study uncanny spiritual support from our Thank you for caring enough to print group shared their experiences of Friends Meeting in Boulder.