Picking Apples

Christy Spalink
New York City, NY
Friend of Ted

I always looked forward to when Ted came over for dinner or just to hang out. He was a unique soul. Sometimes, when I would be struggling with something, Ben would advise me to tell Ted. He was the most empathic person I have ever met. He was the best listener of any friend Ben and I have ever known. I also loved hearing about his hobbies and latest ventures. After knowing Ted for a while I would even ask Ben what new hobbies he was up to. Shearing sheep, butchering cattle, or growing the most spectacular fruits and vegetables were not too daunting for Ted. I respected Ted for his principles and wanted to be more like him, everything from planting a little potted garden on our deck with pots borrowed from Ted to happily selling our car when we moved to New York City.

I have a friend that worked at the hospital with me in Grand Rapids, but had no connections to anything CRC-related. But, she did know of a seminarian who had stopped by her home one time. In her yard was a large apple tree whose fruit went to waste every year. A young man with a beard dropped by one day, knocking on the door, and asked permission to harvest and eat her apples. Of course, she was not going to use them, so Ted went to work harvesting all her apples, and they welcomed Ted in for dinner. Imagine our surprise when we finally made the connection that this Ted was the same Ted that we were friends with. Ted was probably the only impression that my friend had of the seminary besides my husband and myself. And it was a good impression indeed.