[Oe List ...] Salmon on Rupert Barnes

[Kenneth]

And he had such an amazing ability to relate to people, out of such a deep
reservoir of experience, even in the midst of a development call. I remember
accompanying him in visiting a woman who was an executive with the Anchorage
World Affairs Council (a prize target that John Ruppert had identified).
Over tea it came out that the woman practiced pottery on the side, and as
John Ruppert examined one of the tea cups she had made, he gently shifted
into a reflection on the Japanese aesthetic, in which perfection is
intensified by the presence of a tiny defect--just like the cup he was
holding in his hand. The woman just glowed--he had won a friend for life!
And of course, later he introduced me to the pleasures (and proper
etiquette) of sushi, which apparently was one his favorite culinary
delights.
 
Ken Gillgren

  _____  

From: oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net [mailto:oe-bounces at wedgeblade.net] On Behalf
Of Nancy Lanphear
Sent: Tuesday, April 15, 2008 2:54 PM
To: William Salmon
Cc: OE Community
Subject: Re: [Oe List ...] Salmon on Rupert Barnes


Oh, Pastor Bill, 

What a story! I can just close my eyes and see the picture that you have
"painted"! I was gifted with your efforts at supporting and encouraging John
Rupert in the early days - I did development with him in Kenya. What I
remember is the brief case that he took everywhere with him - up country in
Kenya, on development calls, into town, on visits to friends - everywhere!
In the brief case was underwear, socks, a razor, comb,and toothbrush - all
the things you would need if you were stuck somewhere overnight. The
humorous part was that one or more of the items could come spilling out on
the floor or in John Rupert's lap at any time. And they did! What a trip!
Isn't this a wonderful way to honor a dear colleague and rehearse our common
memory at the same time. I love it! And he would too. We are all loved,

Nancy
On Apr 15, 2008, at 9:15 AM, William Salmon wrote:


Repert Barnes! What a blith spirit of a man. With his clipped accent and
star-studded eyes behind coke-bottle eye glasses he did not cut a handsome
figure, but it was his physical and spiritual energy that transformed
everything. 
Rupert and I became good friends and colleagues when we both were first
assigned to the Development Office. We met as a team for 10 days getting
ready for our fund-raising drive, but Rupert was uncertain about his place
in this universe. After the plan was a consensus and the assignments made,
then everyone got ready to "get out the door." 
Everyone, except Rupert!
Wouldn't you know, he and I were assigned to each other for accountability
purposes. I couldn't get out the door until he was ready to go. My
instructions were, "Stay here until Barnes is ready to go." It was another
five days of praticing the pitch before Barnes was convinced he might be
able to do this; Lord only knows that the pitch and I now were one. It was a
reluctant two-by-two that left 4750 No. Sheridan the next morning. 
As I recall, as we got into the taxi to the airport, Rupert was still
rehearsing his pitch and still asking me for reassurance. Then the miracle
happened -- if indeed it was a miracle, but Rupert Barnes became the wild
man of development. 
Part of the accountability structure was for each team of two to call each
other every day. Rupert stopped calling the second day were out. Finally, I
had a local colleague in his community flag him down long enough to call me.

"Rupert, what the hell are you doing?" 
"Oh, Pastor Bill, I was making evening calls." 
"That's wonderful. How's it going?" 
"Extraordinarily well. My last appointment for the night was at midnight!" 
>From then on it was all down hill to success. I don't know how donors put up
with his eccentricities. However, he inspired in me a desire to make a few
midnight calls of my own. It's amazing how dedication transforms us.
I was privileged to have a small hand in "getting him out the door." The
rest was history. 
For being a part of his flights of fancy, I'll forever be inspired. 
Pastor Bill 
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