Anaheim, decades ago….It’s Sunday,
9:15am, I’m at work. My phone on the podium rings and the caller tells me
she is an assistant to Dr. Schuller. She makes a reservation for him and
his family, a party of ten. I have a cove type area at the front door and
we stanchion it off for his party.
He arrives, smiling, looking sharp
in his beautifully tailored suit, thanks me for the reservation and then
studies the area I plan to seat him. He points his family to the table
and quietly tells me the area is perfect. The weekly requests began and were
consistent in their arrival time. I also received courtesy calls on the
Sundays he and guests would not be coming.
A couple of years later I get a
call at my home. It sounded like the same voice and because I am so good
at remembering names I had no idea who I was speaking with. “Dr. Schuller
would like you to be his guest for the opening night of The Glory Of
Christmas” she said. Without hesitation I said yes. Arriving at The
Chrystal Cathedral to pick up my tickets I found a note attached. Please
join us for a pre-show reception was the message and up the elevator to the
office of Dr. Schuller my mother and I went. There were many there that I
knew and the Sparkling Cider was freely poured. Finally someone asked
that we all be seated and once that was done an announcement in a booming voice
proclaimed “Ladies & Gentlemen, Dr. Robert Schuller.” He entered the room
from behind his desk, sat down and perused the audience. He seemingly made eye
contact with everyone in the room before he spoke. His first words… “I
know who you are, you’re Jim, so glad you could come!” The next words
heard broke the room from silence to loud laughter. The words were those
of my mother… “Oh my God, he knows you!” She looked at me and even more loudly
proclaimed “He knows you!”
About two years ago, as a Past
Chapter President of the Orange County Knights Of Columbus, I was invited to
help with the first official tour of the Chrystal Cathedral property for Orange
Diocesan Priests. My job included escorting Bishop Brown into the
property’s theatre. As I did no-one really noticed who I was with.
His attire was casual, more a private sea captain then the Bishop of
Orange. As he walked up the stairs to the stage one could hear the
priests…”It’s the Bishop.”, “It’s Bishop Brown”. He warmly welcomed
everyone and then said he would like us to welcome a special guest. He
then stepped off the stage and there was silence. The curtains opened and
seated stage left was Dr. Schuller. He looked over the crowd, smiled and
began to rise from his chair. At that moment everyone was stunned.
He looked ill, thin, frail. He walked slowly to the podium placed
his hands on either side and welcomed everyone. He spoke softly as if
searching for words. Then you could see him grip the podium and he leaned
forward. He was now the man that began his career on the roof of a
drive-in movie theatre. He was dynamic in his final words. He said
he built the Crystal Cathedral as a gift to his God. He expressed his
happiness that his treasure was now in the hands of those attending and he said
he was sure it would be raised to even greater heights. He thanked
everyone again and began back towards his chair. An aid rushed to him
guiding him then helped seat him. The aid rushed off the stage and as the
curtain closed Dr.Schuller observed a cheering, whistling, standing
ovation. He was smiling, his eyes bright, nodding in acknowledgment.
Dr.Schuller
died recently…you had to be aware, it was headlines in newspapers
everywhere. Radio and television saturated us with his life story.
He was known all around the world. He changed the lives of thousands with
his Hour Of Power television shows. He will be laid to rest in the cemetery he
created on the grounds of the now Christ Cathedral. It has been
administrated by the Bishop of Orange staff since day one. I’m bothered by what
I haven’t heard, seen or read. Dr. Schuller left his life here on earth during
the holiest week of the year. It was on Holy Thursday, two days prior to
Passover and three days before Easter. I believe it is an interesting
note, if fact I think it is very significant, at least from where I sit.
