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Friends United
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Quaker Life
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| Between Friends | Contents |
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By Katie Terrell, Editor My grandfather died when I was 16. It was sudden and unexpected and when I heard the news I feared I would never laugh again. You see, no one could make me laugh like my Grandpa Lowell. He wore a medal around his neck, an award for bravery, he said. I have that medal now, a medic alert necklace declaring him allergic to penicillin. He laughed so hard at his own jokes that my grandmother used to say he got “tickled to death.” He called my dad, his son-in-law, “what’s his name,” even after my parents had been married 20 years. He wrote poetry about springtime and family and a dog named Buck. He taught junior high Math, named his cars and always wanted a boat and motor. The last time I saw him he hugged and kissed me and said, “I love you, Pooky.” It wasn’t because he knew we’d never see each other again in this life; it was just his way. These were the kinds of memories shared at Tom Mullen’s memorial service, too. Tom was remembered as a writer, a sports nut and a spiritual champion. His sage advice about preaching was quoted by a former student, “Number one, talk about God. Number two, talk about 20 minutes. If you can’t do one, do the other.” He was remembered for his humor and his passion and his wisdom, legacies that he leaves behind in each of us who were lucky enough to know him. In this issue we celebrate Tom’s life and legacy with tributes from just a few of the countless individuals who were impacted by Tom’s presence in this world. We honor his ministry of humor by looking at humor in the Bible (pp. 14-16), humor and vocal ministry (p. 46) and whether or not Quakers can be funny (p. 31). I was blessed to have known Tom in various capacities, from reading and publishing his books, to receiving a writing fellowship in his name, to participating in conferences and retreats where he was present. The last time I saw Tom was at a Quaker Hill Conference Center luncheon. He read a historic account from the early days of Quaker Hill and brought it to life with his inflections and the cadence of his voice. He tickled me to death, just like my grandfather had done. I know that my grandfather would be grateful to Tom for making me laugh again. I pray that each of you has experienced the joy of knowing someone who makes you laugh and think and love (pp. 12-13). |
12 30 Minutes
with Tom Mullen 14 Enjoying the Bible's Humor 18 That Summer of '54 17 Innocents Abroad _______________________________ 6 Sacred Moments 7 News from Friends United Meeting 31 Ask Tom 32 Peace Notes 34 Reviews 36 Passages 44 Classifieds 46 Perspectives _______________________________
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