Some amazing stories seldom make the news

Not all the really important stories make the news.

A recent incident caused me to remember Barton Jerome. Barton was one of Kelowna’s favourite young men. He was also a young man who had some physical and mental challenges. One night, while attempting to pick up a pop can on Highway 97, near Orchard Park Mall, Barton lost control of his bicycle and swerved into an 18-wheeler.

Barton was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He may have been physically and mentally challenged, but that didn’t hold him back. He was given the chance to do yard work at a local car dealership and together with several other odd jobs, along with his trademark collection of pop cans, he was able to live on his own in his own mobile home, which incidentally he paid for on his own.

Barton made good friends. He ate apple pie with them. The whole pie – himself. And, he loved Jesus. Whenever he’d attend one of our services he’d say, “Reverend, you didn’t sing the best song of all.”

“What’s that?” I’d ask, already knowing his answer.

“Jesus loves me this I know,” he’d reply seriously.

The only time Barton ever made the news, was the day he died, and it’s too bad because it was his life not his death that was really newsworthy.

There are so many other important occurrences that never make the news. Recently I was thinking not about the few hockey parents who get out of line with a referee or a coach and garner front page headlines, but about the hundreds of thousands of parents and grandparents who regularly show up to cheer and encourage all the youngsters involved, including the young referees.

I recently drove by a local school on an evening which featured parent-teacher interviews. The parking lot was jammed. So much for all the stories about parents too busy to get involved in the lives of their kids. There are obviously a lot of parents who care deeply and are actively involved in the lives of their young people.

Are there terrible stories of abuse and abandonment that need to be reported? Absolutely! But, today I want to celebrate the huge majority of parents who are doing an awesome job.

The Bible tells us to honor our mothers and fathers. The truth is, most of you parents make that easy. Way to go.

One more story from the car wash.

A while back I was at a car wash, behind a young man who fit a certain stereotype. He drove a fast car, played loud music and several of the symbols on his car indicated you probably wouldn’t want your daughter to date him. Just about the time I pretty much had my mind made up about this guy, I noticed that an older lady in the line next was having car trouble. Before any of us “respectable-looking” guys even thought about helping her, the young man in front of me was out of his car, rolled up his sleeves and gave her a hand. It eventually cost him his place in line and he was still there helping when I left.

These acts of kindness will never make the news. But, they will build a community, and they do reflect the words of Jesus, “Do unto others, what you would have them do unto you.” In many ways, that young man was ahead of all the rest of us. Way to go!

So, to Barton Jerome, to all great Moms and Dads and to young men who help older ladies in need, God bless you. You make life better for us all, even if you never get a headline.