By Edward Short October 20, 2006

Memories of Dale Ward /02:

By Edward Short October 27, 2006

2006年10月10日生命之光广播电台的节目部经理，Dale Ward，去世。生命之光的同仁都很怀念这位领导人。

Dale很有创造力和艺术感。1996年11月我陪他和我们广播电台的总裁，Charles Caudill，去中国旅游时，一路上Dale都很兴奋。因为他动过手术，换了人工股骨，Dale走路不太方便。因此，他时常坐着轮椅，由我来推。无论我们去哪里，Dale都很高兴，很快乐，很积极。他不会因为坐着轮椅而觉得不好意思。我们遇到谁，Dale就跟谁打招呼。我们参观博物馆等地方，如果有轮椅，Dale就用。那时候，外国观光客没有像今天那么多，坐轮椅的并不多，所以Dale时常被别人注意到的。但是，Dale不以为怪，不以为难，更不觉得不好意思。

虽然Dale时常坐着轮椅，意思并不是不会走路。有需要时他走路没有问题。上下楼梯也可以，但熟悉Dale的人都知道他很痛苦，走路受罪。然而身体虽然痛，他很坚持。

我记得，我们在北京的那几天，要上万里长城走一走。我们坐车到八达岭，从八达岭登上长城。您可知道，我们美国人听说“中国万里长城”，听了一辈子。自己有机会去，就是实现一生当中的美梦。Dale一点都不例外；他也高兴极了！但是问题是因为他走路不便，所以他没有办法登上长城。

啊！还有一点，我还没有告诉您Dale不但走路不方便，他身材高大，重量恐怕有150公斤。怎么办？在万里长城轮椅没有用。一生的美梦就在眼前，但是人走不上去；人得不着美梦。

有问题吗？Dale是否失望了呢？他认为花钱、时间、人力前往万里长城都是白花的呢？他是不是对我们这些比较活泼的，行动方便的，能够登上长城的人吃醋呢？都不是！

刚好，那边有一张长板凳，Dale就坐下了，告诉我们其他的人去走走，他会等着我们。我已经说了，是十一月；不必告诉您天气已经很冷。但是Dale因为很胖，所以从来都不怕冷。他坐在椅子上晒太阳，欣赏美丽的，妙不可言的万里长城，看着来往其他的观光客。Dale高兴的不得了，心满意足。他的美梦已经实现了。

但是，我的故事还没讲完。大约一两个小时以后，其他我们几位回到Dale那里，才发现Dale也够忙！那么大的一位外国人坐在那里，引起了不少人的好奇心。虽然Dale不会讲汉语，但是他知道人家都在看他。因为椅子够长，所以很多人愿意趁机会坐在Dale的旁边，照相。但是他们不知道恰当不恰当，也不知道怎么样问！但是Dale很聪明，知道他们心里大概在想着什么。他就对他们微笑，而且用手势请他们过来，坐下。

父母亲请Dale让小孩子跟他合照。新郎新娘获得了Dale的祝福，跟他合照。女孩子，男孩子都想跟着这位身材高大的美国人一块照相。不知道今天中国几本相册里面都有Dale Ward的相片！

虽然Dale不曾登上万里长城，但是他一样从万里长城得到了一生难忘的快乐。他也让别人获得快乐。

朋友，Dale是一位基督徒。当天Dale所表现的精神和态度是基督徒的人生观。如果Dale今天能够向您说话，他一定会劝您阅读圣经，认识那位创造天地的真神。

Dale was very creative and artistic. In November, 1996, I accompanied Dale, and the president of World Christian Broadcasting, Charles Caudill, on a trip to China. How happy Dale was the entire trip! As he had had a hip replacement, however, and as walking was somewhat difficult for Dale, when a wheelchair was available, someone would push him in it. Dale was excited wherever we went, but he was never embarassed to be seen in a wheelchair. He greeted everyone.

Although Dale sometimes used a wheelchair, don’t think he couldn’t walk. Whenever he needed to walk, it was not a problem; he walked! He even negotiated steps without great difficulty, but those of us who knew him well, knew that it was painful for him. No matter how painful, he endured it.

I recall that while we were in Beijing, we all wanted to visit the Great Wall. We took a car to Badaling, and mounted the Wall from there. Perhaps you understand that Americans hear about the "Great Wall of China" all their lives, and to have an opportunity to visit it in person is the realization of a life-long dream. Dale was no exception, and he was as happy as anyone to visit the Great Wall. The problem, however, was that since he had trouble walking, he couldn’t negotiate the steep incline and innumerable steps of the Great Wall.

There’s one thing I haven’t mentioned yet: Dale was a very large man. He weighed about 150 kilograms, which meant that even a wheelchair would not help him on the Great Wall. The realization of a life-long dream was at hand, but he couldn’t grasp it.

Was this a problem for Dale? A disappointment? Did he think that the money, time and strength it took to go to the Great Wall were all wasted? Was he jealous of the rest of us who could walk more easily and who would be able to mount this world famous Wall? No, not at all!

There happened to be a bench at the entrance which was also at a low point on the Wall. Dale took his seat on the bench and told the rest of us to go on and have our fun, and that he would still be right there when we returned. I’ve already mentioned that it was November, so I need not remind you that in north China in November the weather is very cold. Because Dale was so a large man, however, cold had never bothered him, so he just sat and sunned himself on the bench, and admired the indescribably beautiful Great Wall of China. Dale was happy as could be! His life-long dream had been realized.

But my story isn’t complete yet! A couple of hours later, the rest of us returned to where Dale was sitting, only to learn that he had been one busy man during our absence. A large foreigner such as himself had not gone unnoticed by the Chinese. Even though Dale couldn’t speak Chinese, he knew that everyone was giving him the eye. Since his bench was long enough, lots of people wanted to take advantage of the rare opportunity and sit with him—and get their picture taken! They weren’t sure whether this was appropriate or not, and they didn’t know how to ask. Dale was a pretty smart guy though, so he knew what they were thinking, so he smiled and beckoned with his hand, and invited each one to sit with him.

One-by-one, parents brought their children for photos. Then came a newly married couple, and Dale gave them his blessings along with the photo op. Boys and girls, old and young, all wanted to have their photo taken with this Big-and-Tall American. I wonder how many family photo albums in China today prominently display a photo of Dale Ward!

Even though Dale never climbed the Great Wall of China, the Great Wall gave him an unforgettable and very happy experience. And Dale made other people happy in the process.

Dale was a Christian, and all that Dale did that day at the Great Wall, including the kind spirit and great attitude that he exhibited, was an example of his Christian philosophy of life. If Dale were able to speak to you today, I’m sure he would encourage you to read the Bible, and to get to know the true God who created us all.