Cal Brallier loved God and people.
If you know him you may have a story or memory to contribute. Click the link below and write in the comment box. Please include your name, where the memory took place, and approximate year.
If there was something deeper and "under the surface"--we would love to hear this too. Often we do not take time to reflect about spiritual impact. Please share this too if it comes to mind.
(Something I worte with my dad in mind.)
ReplyDeleteFather
“Our Father” begins the Lord’s Prayer.
Surely it is a son’s call, at once comforting, yet awe-laced and respect-tinged, that touches a deep nerve in our soul—a nerve so basic as to send signals that direct our behavior in a primal way.
From our Father comes our very being: our boundaries, our sexuality, our instinct to protect, our need to provide, our courage to defend, our faithfulness, our fidelity, our restraint, our mercy, our justice and our humility. From our Father comes our identity.
All these characteristics become magnified at the loss of our earthly father. In him we have received the attempt to form such traits in our character. In him we have learned that only our heavenly Father is the true measure of character.
So, at the death of our father, this connective tissue is severed. We bleed from flesh cut through. Pain overwhelms all prudence and care. Tears fall for that which can never be restored.
But also we know, more keenly than before, that a cycle has finished and begun again, upon hearing our own children cry out, “Daddy”.
And in our suffering we cry out, as the Son taught us, ‘Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.”
Steven Brallier
November, 2007
Uncle Cal, for this is how we knew him growing up on the mission field in Kenya, and he will always remain "Uncle" Cal to us. He was one of the kindest and yet funniest guys around. He always showed such respect for us kids, and yet we knew that rules were rules and unless there was an exception, those rules were not to be broken. He would never correct us in a harsh manner though, but we knew, as with all the other fathers in Kenya, that we were to treat others with respect and other people's property with respect too. And he demonstrated for us, even after we got back from Kenya, that all people were equal in God's eyes and that you are to cherish all of God's creation. After my father, James Yutzy. passed away suddenly as a young man, Uncle Cal and Aunt Mart were the ones who came often to mom's house in South Bend, IN, helping her with many house projects and simply being that hands on kind of friend that we appreciated so much. I (Linda)remember the time we visited them in California and the visits they have made to come and visit us in Arizona. Uncle Cal, you lived your walk and showed us how to live a full and wonderful life, full of interesting things and so rich in love. Thank you for your example of a good and gracious man, a man after God's own heart. Blessings to Aunt Mart and to our Kenya cousins, Mike, Steve, Susan and Carol.
ReplyDeleteLove ya, Linda Yutzy Gloden, Donna Yutzy and Glenna Yutzy
There are plenty of memories that I could share about my grandpa, but the one memory that I will never forget was on the day before my grandpa died. I had the opportunity to read some verses from the Bible and despite the condition he was in he could precisely tell me what verses he wanted to hear. I read him Mathew 5. His faith still amazes me.He truly was a christian man with overwhelming compassion and wisdom.
ReplyDeleteKatie Griffin (granddaughter)
I look up to my grandpa in so many ways one way is his great sense of humor his positive attitude, but most of all his love for christ. I appreciate all that he has done for me. I hope some day I will be as great a role model as he was for me.
ReplyDeleteI will always remember Cal as the one who scared my whole household in the late night hours. It was at a youth convention, and many young men were staying at our house in Clarkston, WA. After service one evening we raided the refrig. for pie. I then found, what I thought was whipping cream, and put a great glob on everybody's pie. It twas pancake batter. Ugh!
ReplyDeleteDuring that conventon, (this was before he knew Marty, he was on a late date. Not wanting to wake the many people in the house he didn't turn on any lights when he came in late. As he crept down the stairs to the basement, my brother was in the bathroom. Hearing the stairs creak, he was scared to death so ran and jumped into his sleeping bag only to hit our cat who had crawled in the warm bag. The cat yowled, my brother screamed, and the who house was awakened. We have had many laughs about that through the years. Rev. Keith Plank
I first met Cal when he was courting Martha. They were both students at Pacific Bible College. Martha and her sister Ruth, had become good friends with my mother. Cal and Martha were attending Holliday Park COG where my mother, two sisters, and I attended. Cal & Martha became teachers of my Sunday School class. As I remember, I think I was a little "jealous" of Cal because, as is so common with early teenage boys, I had a "crush" on Martha. I think I was about 12 or 13 at the time.
ReplyDeleteWhen Cal and Martha announced their engagement, and set a wedding date, our family discussed attending the wedding. Although, my father was not a Christian and rarely attended church, he had gotten to know Martha because my mother had invited she and Ruth to our house, for Sunday dinner, on numerous occasions. I remember going to Montesano, WA for the wedding.
After Cal and Martha graduated from PBC they left Portland and Cal started his career as a minister.
I can remember seeing the two of them only rarely over the next 50 plus years. I did start corresponding with them in 1998 when my wife and I made our first trip to a mission hospital in Kijabe, Kenya. The hospital was just down the road from Rift Valley Academy, where the Brallier children had attended school for part of the time that Cal & Martha were missionaries to Kenya. We made a total of five trips to Kijabe between 1998 and 2002, and I think, after each trip I would contact Cal & Martha and tell them about my experience there.
In late July or early August, 2007, I received a telephone call from Cal asking me if I could join he and Martha for lunch. They were visiting Portland for two or three weeks. I was surprised and pleased to receive the call but I could not join them for lunch, because I was recovering from an operation on my right leg and was not able to get to a restaurant. Since I couldn't meet them, they asked if they could drive to our house and visit with me. I told them I would like to see them. Much to my surprise they told me that, I believe it was their niece, lived in Lake Oswego, not too far from our house.
I don't think I had seen them in person for 30-40 years. We had a delightful time of conversation and reminiscing.
It is interesting how friendships, once established, can continue over many years even though their is very little in person contact.
Having been married to my wife for going on 51 years, I think I understand, to some degree, the feeling of loss Martha must have at present. I am sorry for that.
John W. Thompson, M.D.
I am Cal's first cousin, Marguerite, my mother was Edna, sister of Cal's mother. I always missed seeing my cousins who lived on the West Coast (I grew up in Colorado) and so did not really know Cal as a younger person. This past year my husband, Bob and I were delighted to get a phone call from Cal saying he and Marty were coming to visit us in Virginia Beach, VA. They drove here from New England and we had the privilege of spending an afternoon, evening and the next morning with them. It was such a pleasure to be with them and connect with my dear cousin,Cal. I was so impressed with his low key, loving way. I felt close and truly related to him. What a gift. I welcome any contact with any of the family as I missed that growing up. Marguerite Young
ReplyDeleteI want to leave my email address which is margueriteyoung@cox.net
ReplyDeleteWe didn't meet Cal until the last two years of his life, but felt an immediate bond with him and Marty. They were a tremendous blessing to us, our family and our Sunday school class. Observing Cal and Marty together was like listening to a well tuned orchestra. We will always treasure the privilege of knowing them.
ReplyDeleteBea and Marvin Farris
I have many memories of Cal, but one in particular comes to mind of something that happened about 3 decades ago. We were in a restaurant one time with Pastor Cal. Our daughter Emily was around aged 2. We all stopped at a place to eat hamburgers. Emily took the bun off and noticed "things" clinging to the bun. We all knew it was just stuff from the meat, but in a loud two year old voice she said, "Look! Dares bugs on my bun!" Pastor Cal laughed and laughed and laughed.
ReplyDeleteCal was such a special, precious man who cared deeply for the flock God had entrusted him with.
Carol Sissel, one of his flock from way, way back