"Thank You," George CapeI am honored to share the following story by former member, George Cape. He and his wife, Babs, were involved in many facets of congregational life; both served multiple terms on the session. Since moving to their retirement home in Sun City, TX, they are now members of First Presbyterian Church, Georgetown. Both are now involved in the ministries of that congregation.
George’s story serves two purposes:
- Here is a marvelous example of a "faith story," such as you are asked to share as part of Appreciative Inquiry. Understand that this one is highly unique, and George wrote it in first person, whereas we tell our stories to an interviewer. That person then deletes personal identifications and writes it for addition to our stories of where and who we have found God to be.
- For those who do not know the fascinating story of one of the most unique stained-glass windows anywhere, here it is by the hand of the designer.
My story about "The Window", by George Cape
One of the charges to architect, Gene Hildinger, was to include a place for a future stained glass window in the design of Lake Park’s new sanctuary. Klahr Raney, Lake Park’s pastor, told me that I was going to design the window and that it would have a descending dove in it. My response was something like "You’re out of your mind. I have never done anything remotely like that. However, I would be pleased to participate in finding the right designer." From time-to-time Klahr would repeat this command and remind me to be thinking about it.
I really did not understand his persistence. Yes, I was a practicing architect. Yes, I had designed some things around the church. Yes, I had completed some fairly good artwork. But "stained glass!" No way. That is a very different field! So, this was the atmosphere in which the subject existed for many, many months. Yet, Klahr and I kept-on-keeping –on with our banter. One day Klahr handed me a set of architectural drawing and said I would need these to start the window design. He was not going to listen to me at all! I think I said something like, "I’ll play around with it for a while."
Okay, how do I start? Klahr wants a descending dove. The only thing I can think of to add to the program is that no one could say, "I don’t need to go look at it. I’ve already seen it." I wanted to offer an opportunity for folks to see something different each time they looked."
Well, let me tell you it was a frustrating bit of playing around. Again, I’m not sure of the time span in this story, but it was several weeks of off and on scribbling to no conclusive end. My mind set was, "Lord, why did I let myself get in this position." I, honestly, do not remember consciously praying about this. But, I do remember telling myself to relax and try to find a starting point. I am absolutely convinced that even if I wasn’t praying God was answering.
Things began to come together and began to simplify when I asked myself, "How do you build a stained glass window?" The answer is that you put pieces of glass together with a strip of lead in between them. What if you put pieces together so that they formed letters? It will take a minimum of two pieces to make a "T". How many to make a "P"? So the concept began to gel: Letters make words. Words can form a background, which can offer variety. Now finally a concept! Use colorful glass to form words as a playful background for the descending dove.
The story does not end with the design on paper. Hurdles lay ahead. Will this concept work? Can this thing actually be built? By whom? For how much?
I visited with stained glass studios in Dallas, Waco, and Denton. Each meeting was more frustrating than the last. None were interested in what I was presenting. Oh, they were interested in the job. But, they had design ideas of their own. (I vividly remember one. It was a plain blue background with a single stem rose in the middle. Wow, I had really inspired this guy.) However, I was not discouraged that there was a technical problem with my concert. These studios just did not want to execute someone else’s design. So, I was again getting discouraged. Well, the Lord cam through again! Some long forgotten benefactor told me to talk to Hulbert Smith at Smith Stained Glass Studios, Fort Worth. (As of this writing I still have his business card. His phone number was WA6-5263). Mr. Smith loved the concept! His ego allowed him to partnership with what I had done and he made it happen. Alleluia!! The colors and the workmanship are his. And the colors, oh the colors, how vital to the success of the window.
Now, all we have to do before we start building the window is find out how much we like it after we find out how much it will cost. Then figure out how we are going to pay for it. New characters join the script: General Coulter Sublett and his gracious lady, Bobbie. They were longtime friends of Bobs’ loving parents, Colonel Winfield Bartow and my mother-in-law, Lucy. Coulter and Win were a part of George Patton’s staff and were with the 3rd Army from before D-Day to beyond the Battle of the Bulge. Being active members of Highland Park Presbyterian Church, Coulter and Bobbie were also intrigued with the window design. They proposed a financing idea that caused the window to happen: If members of Lake Park raise half of the money needed, the Sublett’s would match that amount! We did! You can see the result!
Reflecting on this story over the years has helped me crystallize some of my thoughts about God. He is at work in our lives all the time. Even when we tell Him, "Go away I don’t want to be bothered with this." God gives people like Klahr the tenacity and the courage of their conviction to keep-on-keeping-on. God guides our hearts, hands and minds to enhance His work. I am reminded of Katharine Lee Bates’ response when complemented about writing "America the Beautiful." She said, "I may have held the pen but I was not the author." This states precisely how I feel about my role in the design of the window.