AND GOD SAID, “LET THERE BE LIGHT”

By: Nora Palmer Fox May, 2015

“For it is the God who said, ‘Let light shine out of darkness’, who has shone in our hearts to give the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.”  II Corinthians 4:6 New Revised Standard Version

Sometimes, when walking through the dark night of the soul, we cry out to God, “Where are you? Where are you?” We know we are promised a Holy Spirit, a Holy Comforter. But now, as we sink ever deeper into the abyss, our despair is unbearable.

“Where is that promise?”

Dragging ourselves to our place of worship, all seems meaningless. Then our sorrowful eyes make contact with someone. Someone we KNOW, we just KNOW is special. More than kind eyes and sweet smile, we see an essence of extraordinary goodness and strength. Our spirits start to climb back into the Light. And then we realize we are sharing time and space with one who seems to be in complete, loving union with God, our Savior and Holy Spirit. This is . . .

KENNETH NEAL, RETIRED PASTOR

(Ken’s preferred title)

“Your Word Is a Lamp To My Feet and a Path to My Light.” Psalm 119:105

Kenneth Neal, by nature, a very humble person, has the ability to see beauty all around him and that spirit of Light shines through him. He is a scholar and dedicated to living his life with Christ through the Holy Spirit.

Born in Silverton, Oregon, Ken calls Westfir, Oregon (also known as logging camp 3) home. Beautifully located on the north fork of the Willamette River, with only 750 residents at the time, Kenneth’s walk with Jesus flourished.

Knowing of Kenneth’s solid character, it is no surprise to learn his ancestors settled in Oregon in the 1800s. In 1844, his great grandfather came to Oregon over the Oregon Trail and settled on a farm. Can grit and tenacity be inherited?

Working in logging, his father moved from “faller with axes and big saws that took two men to pull”, to being in charge of the scales.

Ken is the oldest of 5 children of Wallace and Veda Scott Neal. After Ken, came Shirley, Evelyn, Brian and Laverne, all living in a two room cabin. What grief must have surrounded the family when, only 3 months old, Laverne died.

His parents, even with moving 19 times in their married life, kept joy alive in the Neal family. Ken speaks of family strength noting . . .

“…. the dependability and care of my parents, my sisters and brother was a huge factor in my life.”

He notes the occasion when his mom, Veda, was pregnant. Her darling husband, Wallace, thinking Camp 3 was no place to deliver a baby, moved the family to Silverton. The rental was an exorbitant $10.00 a month. Veda told her husband “Anywhere you are is where I will be happy.” Ken’s uncle found a place where the family could live temporarily.

His parents’ trustworthiness is recalled in another vivid memory. Returning home after his dad’s appendectomy in Portland, their car broke down. His mother stated, “Dad can’t carry you on his back this time.”

She told her children she and dad would walk back to Camp 3 and then return with better transportation. Ken and his siblings waited patiently and all eventually ended well.

“The several years I spent learning and teaching Sunday School and summer Bible school was another factor in my spiritual life.”

To all valiant, unheralded Sunday School teachers, please let me introduce a role model, Mrs. Ethel Fox. Kenneth attributes Mrs. Fox and the people of the little community church as the biggest influence on his spiritual walk with Christ. “She had a sort of glow and I began to grow spiritually.”

Ken loved Sunday School, but by age 14 he was the only boy his age still going to Sunday School. “What will I do?” Ken pondered. A very wise church superintendent saw what we all see in Ken . . . yes, a scholar with an abiding and growing love of Jesus through the Holy Spirit, and a gift for sharing his faith. So, of course, Ken was asked and agreed to teach Sunday School to boys.

PANSIES AND THE MOVING OF GOD’S SPIRIT

“The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region of shadow and death light has dawned.” Matthew 4:16

When Ken arrived in Westfir, all of the trees had been logged and it looked desolate but that didn’t stop 11 year old Ken from climbing over “the blackened bark” of this rugged wooden playground. As with so many things, “desolate” is in the eye of the beholder.

Look ! Just over there near the blackened bark. See that elderberry bush?

Now wouldn’t that be beautiful with some colorful pansies encircling it. As promised, Ken’s dad brought home pansies to plant all around the bush. Today, there are no signs of logged clearings and no camps remain. Can you believe, as I do, that young Kenneth Neal seeing beauty in darkness began the movement to have all the natural beauty return?

“Many ‘virgin’ forests covered the mountains of western Oregon in my youth and still do. In the summer of 1944, after my junior year in high school, I worked for the Forest Service and helped a ranger ‘cruise’ timber sections which were to be logged, hiking as much as 21 miles in one day. I still remember walking through a small grove of hemlock trees probably about 200 feet high. They grew in a level area near where two creeks joined and provided water for them. Beneath their thick canopy on a bright afternoon it was a little darker than where trees grew further apart. I felt the moving of God’s spirit all around me in the world.”

After reading this, not only can all of us see the beauty through Ken’s eyes, we see a person who can paint portraits with words that fill your heart.

GOODBYE TO WESFIR AND HELLO TO EUGENE, OREGON AND THE UNIVERSITY OF OREGON

“. . . Let your light shine before others, so they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in Heaven.”  Matthew 5:16

With a thirst for knowledge, Kenneth continued his education at the University of Oregon.

Like most of us leaving home for the first time, Ken loved his studies but missed his home, especially his Westfir church. Traveling the 40 miles to and from Westfir each week end, he continued his involvement with the church. He eventually stayed on campus at the Wesley Foundation. Graduation came and so did the draft and the army.

YOU’RE IN THE ARMY NOW

“As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” John 9:5

Drafted into the army, Ken was initially sent to Ft. Ord, CA, for six weeks and then on to Ft. Eustis, Virginia, where he served as a chaplain’s assistant as did many others. Because of the army’s extreme lack of attention to detail (Ken attributes this to the scarcity of women in the army), papers and soldiers were shuffled and misplaced. This is how Ken met a lifelong friend, Ted, who apparently got to Ft. Eustis because of a clerical error. At any rate, a bond was formed with Ted, Ken and Johnny and several other assistants who explored historical Virginia when leave allowed.

They loved Williamsburg, at the time a quaint, small replication of the colonial days. They ate off of pewter plates and enjoyed wine sundaes at the famous Chowning’s Tavern.

The tavern just had a grand reopening in March, 2015. Ken was best man at Johnny’s wedding.

While in the army a budding actor emerged from private Kenneth Neal who discovered he really loved learning all the nuances of style, emotion and theatre performance. How could he be aware that the Light walking with him would use this as the young Kenneth grew ever closer to his calling, ministry.

THE G.I. BILL AND NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY

“. . . giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.”  Colossians 1:12

By the time of discharge from the army, Kenneth’s reputation as a scholar and leader was beyond reproach. Knowing he wanted to study public speaking and teach, he chose one of the two greatest universities in this discipline . . . Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Kenneth depicts this as “ . . . a most enlightening year.”   Though immersed in his studies with little time for theater, he did have the opportunity to participate in a radio play.

TED’S STORY

At Northwestern, his roommate, Ted (not the army friend) impressed Ken by his life story. Born in the US of Japanese parents, Ted, a US citizen, and 2nd generation of Japanese parents, this young man was known as Nisei. Although his family returned to Japan, Ted was in the US for further education just as the war with Japan began. Ted’s choices, as a Nisei, were to go to a US internment camp or to join one of the US military branches and this is what Ted did. Valiantly fighting in Italy, Ted’s division was the most decorated division in WWII.

Ted’s story does not end here. His sister was working at the post office in their home town of Hiroshima, when the atom bomb was dropped. Ted’s story had a profound impact on Kenneth.

With excellent education credentials, umpteen life experiences and with his masters in speech in hand, young Kenneth faced his future as a teacher with enthusiasm.

A professor seemed almost prophetic when he said to Ken, “Kenneth, you would make a good counselor.” Ken did not know what lead the professor to make such a statement. Of course, it is what all of us see, that wonderful Light.

“HOLD ON THERE, YOUNG WHIPPER SNAPPER”

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.”  Matthew 5:14

Still walking with the Light, Ken was flabbergasted to discover that he was absolutely not suited for teaching in public schools!

With much soul searching, prayer and advice, the pull of the ministry was just too strong to ignore any longer.

ONWARD WITH THE HOLY SPIRIT AND ILIFF SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY

“The light shines in the darkness and the darkness did not overcome it.” John 1:5

All the years of a faith-centered journey were now coming together in perfect harmony. Kenneth Neal prepared for his ultimate calling, sharing his love of God through the Holy Spirit as he approached his life as a minister attending Iliff School of Theology. At Iliff, he especially loved the New Testament taught by Dr. Martin Riest. It seems Dr. Riest just sat on his desk top and rolled off facts so fast that many students could not follow him. Kenneth organized a way to keep up and he states he is all the better for it.

Pastor Kenneth never really finished with Iliff even after graduation. Everything in Kenneth’s education including numerous skills and heartfelt passion for leading congregations, led the wise folks at Iliff into asking Kenneth to teach four subjects:

“Preparation and Delivery of Sermons”

“Introduction to Ministry”

“History of Preaching”

“Homiletics”

We, at Parker United Methodist Church, just a few years ago, felt the moving of the Holy Spirit as Kenneth gave his stirring sermon, “Listen, Take Courage and Give Thanks.” This was given in celebration of his 50th anniversary ordination as elder in Rocky Mountain Annual Conference.

Much to Pastor Kenneth’s surprise, his sermon was interrupted by a standing ovation. Most of us were moved so much, we felt commanded to stand and cheer.

Hold that thought! We must travel back in time for just a few years.

WHAT’S THIS? A YOUNG ASSOCIATE PASTOR WITH NO WIFE? THIS WILL NEVER DO!

“Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband too and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all’.” Proverbs 31:28-29

It was the summer of 1960 with sounds of Elvis Presley, the Beatles, Civil Rights, Nixon versus JFK and summer Olympics in Italy. Viet Nam was just beginning to creep into our vocabulary. Kenneth Neal accepted a call as a counselor at a junior high camp. Serving as associate pastor of Casper Wyoming’s First Methodist Church, it is likely Pastor Kenneth was looking forward to spending more time teaching and communing with nature. So off he went to the beautiful Diamond Ranch Camp near Chugwater, Wyoming.

Is it fate, the Holy Spirit or just happenstance that a vivacious Casper school teacher was serving at the same camp as the missionary representative?

CHRYSTAL

(yes, that spelling is correct)

The story that I have heard is that Chrystal stood on the table and led the singing. Chrystal states that’s the only way all of the young campers could see and hear her. But alas, Kenneth had to return to his church and leave Chrystal behind.

Finally returning to Casper, the spunky Chrystal taught and lead the choir at another small Methodist church.

With a “Chrystal smile” and a “Chrystal twinkle in her eye,” our heroine reminisces about their first date. In September or October, 1960 Kenneth invited Chrystal to go on a hay ride with him and many feisty teenagers, giggling at the couple.

Many dates followed and then came Tuesday, November 8, 1960 (yes, election night with JFK, the new president). An awful day in Casper, with snow accumulating to 17.3 inches. (You don’t believe me? Go to Weather Warehouse). Kenneth paid a visit to Chrystal and asked her to go outside for a walk with him. (It must have been love to go out in that weather.)

Eventually, they returned to Chrystal’s home, where Kenneth himmed and hawed and finally said, “I guess I’d better be going.” At the door, he finally popped the question and our laughing Chrystal said, “I thought you’d never ask!” From that beginning, Chrystal and Kenneth have served in churches in Wyoming and Colorado.

A better complement to each other is hard to imagine. Chrystal’s boisterous laughter brings joy to all in hearing distance. Kenneth, on the other hand, smiles lovingly at Chrystal. You can see the pride he has for his wife even before he speaks of it. Theirs is an obvious bond that has been passed down to their children. It is a chain of solid trust anchored in their walk with Jesus.

Remember those pansies in Camp 3? Kenneth’s gift for seeing and nurturing beauty is reflected in all of the gardens he has planted in every parish.

No surprise, that in Elbert County he became a Master Gardner. The same tender care, with Chrystal by his side, is evident in their children, Teresa Sue and Jon Wallace.

The family has expanded to include Jon’s wife, Michelle and their daughter, Bethany and Teresa’s partner, Elizabeth. All live close to the Neal’s Windsor Garden home. The warmth of the Light of Christ is felt in every nook and cranny in their home.

INTO THE FUTURE BRINGING LIGHT OUT OF DARKNESS

“But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Christ his Son cleans us from all sin.”  I John 1:7

The Neals do not appear to be what most of us think when we hear “retired.” Not even the lingering pain of shingles, (Ken’s latest mantra is “Love God, Love Jesus, Get Your Shingles shot!”) known as post herpetic neuralgia, stops them from following and sharing the love of Jesus Christ. You will find Chrystal at her piano or making jewelry in her workshop.

Kenneth is hard at work in his book filled office

• Studying the Bible

• Reading many books including ones by Evelyn Underhill and Raymond Brown

• Enjoying stories about all sorts of events and history he loves

• WRITING—-A COMMENTARY ON THE GOSPEL OF JOHN

Pastor Kenneth reminds me that the author, Toni Morrison said, “If there is a book you cannot find, then write it yourself.” So that is exactly what he is doing in writing the commentary!

Kenneth regularly attends his class on the elegant exercise/dance known as Tai Chi. He loves it.

The Neals love visiting with friends. Having lunch with these two is a delightful experience. Denver and I always leave them feeling uplifted and laughing.

AND GOD SAID, “LET THERE BE LIGHT”

The truth is that some humans live their life shrouded in darkness and do not venture into Light. Devoid of Light, their darkness often descends into evil.

Another truth is that all of us, at some time, will go through the “dark night of the soul.” But a greater truth are the people we pass, the jewels who radiate the Light . . . kind eyes, sweet smile and in complete, loving union with God, our Savior and the Holy Spirit. They lift us even without saying a word . . . they just lift us. Hallelujah! Praise God for Pastor Kenneth Neal.

Pastor Neal, in his own exquisite hand writing and profound thought leaves us with hope. . .

Nora Palmer Fox May, 2015

For a WORD version to print, please contact Nora at Norafox@aol.com