The Blind Man in the Chair

I lived in France for two years. As a result, my mother likes to send me articles about people who are somehow affiliated with France. Last September my mother sent an article particularly pertinent to me because one of the persons mentioned was living in Missouri. He was not only living in Missouri, he was in my stake.

Before reading the article, a picture of an odd-looking man caught my eye. He was staring off into space with his head tilted and metals of honor all over his jacket. He looked like he must be a little crazy. When I read the article, my smirk turned to awe.

Shumway, it turns out, fought in WW II at Normandy where he led his platoon. I've been to Omaha beach. I've seen the graves. I've seen the terrain they fought on. I was there when I was 20 and I remember the sense of awe I felt as I walked by the graves and realized that these men who died were my age. I remember thinking the inevitable questions, 'Could I give my life for the better good at this point?' I've sat through D-day parades, masses, and ceremonies in France. I've felt the profound feelings of respect that can hardly be explained. Needless to say, I already had respect for the men who fought there long before reading about Shumway. Shumway, however, not only fought there, he lost his eye sight. After spending two years in hospitals, he returned home, got married, had eight children, and now has 41 grandchildren.

I've picked up tidbits of information about him. He serves in the St. Louis temple daily. He is a determined person. Once, before giving a talk, he practiced walking to the podium repeatedly so he could do it without aid when the time came to speak. In short, he is a person of hard work, persistence, integrity, depth of character...but most of all, honor.

I was briskly walking out of the temple this summer when I noticed an old man sitting in the lobby chair. He was staring off into space just like the picture in the article my mother sent. I was so exicted to see him, as if I'd seen an old friend. I seriously contemplated introducing myself, but my shy tendencies won out. Shumway, after all, has no idea who I am.