HELP MEET

Notes of Concern…

   …Jack Blair

“HELP MEET”

“One of the most frequently misunderstood terms in the Bible is the term "helpmeet" in the book of Genesis. Genesis 2:18 says, "And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an helpmeet for him."

“The common way in which the term "helpmeet" is interpreted is to mean that Eve, unlike the other beasts of the earth, was "appropriate for" or "worthy"  of Adam and was to be his helper or companion on the earth. While there are some really good things about this interpretation, it doesn't do full justice to what the term "helpmeet" really means. The term, in its original Hebrew, means something much more profound and powerful than just a "helper," and when we understand what God was saying to Adam, we come to see Eve's role and the role of women on this earth in a much different light.

“Women are "saviors" to men by the fact that they give them life and nurture them towards the light of Christ. By conceiving, creating, and bearing mortal bodies, women make it possible for God's children to start on their mortal journey and have the opportunity to become perfected. Without women, there would be no gateway into this world and no opportunity for progress or exaltation.”

These quotes are taken from a source titled Women in the Scripture.

I wanted to write about “helpmeets” but to do so with the understanding that people have many different forms of religious beliefs, if they have religious beliefs at all. The purpose of this column is to highlight the importance of having a “helpmeet,” and I realize in the larger sense, having such a person in one’s life does not require a religious connotation. If in discussing this subject I can encourage my readers to look beside them, identify their “helpmeets” in life, and perhaps take a moment to acknowledge the importance of that person.

As my readers know, I am not a person who writes columns on religion. But I am a person who likes to acknowledge great contributions by Americans, especially when they pass from this life. And there are “help meets” in every walk of life. Obviously the biblical reference is not suggesting an inequality between a man and wife but rather referring to the major roles both can play. The man needs the support of the woman, so he can meet his goals and objectives and responsibilities. I see this as implying it would be difficult for him to accomplish this without the woman. Conversely, the woman depends on the man to fulfill his role and free her up to meet her own goals. 

Teamwork.

Hand in hand.

In this column I am choosing to acknowledge the death two weeks ago of a “helpmeet” who I think is a good standard for the title: Vonette Bright. Her name may mean very little to most of my readers because her husband, Dr. Bill Bright, was more in the spotlight. 

Bill died a number of years ago. But throughout their marriage Vonette was the “helpmeet” I think the Bible anticipated.

This husband and wife team dreamed of and formed what became known as Campus Crusade for Christ. The seed of their idea grew and grew, and now hundreds of thousands of people, almost all volunteers, are working throughout the world to meet the goals of this organization.

After Bill’s death, the name was changed to CRU. Some felt “Crusade” implied something militaristic. So in the US that organization, based in Orlando, FL, is now know as CRU if you wish to Google it and learn more.  

I met Bill Bright decades ago when a friend, Charles Stetson, took me to Orlando for an meeting Dr. Bright. We had a wonderful meeting in Dr. Bright’s modest office in an absolutely beautiful campus setting. I was impressed with him and with everyone on his staff. 

We invited him to speak at an event we were planning in New England, and he accepted.

Years later I went back as he had invited me to lunch. I was surprised that the lunch was just the two of us and was in his home. His health had deteriorated, and he needed to carry around a tank of oxygen. Movement was difficult for him. 

Having said that, he was as enthusiastic as when we first met, and we had a very personal discussion about faith. I was particularly pleased to learn he had studied and written about the faith of the Founding Fathers, and he presented me with a signed copy of that book and some others he had written.

Vonette was busy around the house, but it was clear she was writing another book of her own, traveling and speaking, and supporting Bill in all the activities of Campus Crusade.

The White House has a number of Christmas parties each year for important contributors to the health of the nation, and Bill and Vonette always were invited and loved to go. The year we met he felt he would  have to miss the event because of the difficulties flying commercially would cause with his health problems. 

While I was there, he learned that someone had offered a private jet to take Bill and Vonette to be with the President, and The White House had arranged a scooter for him to use while there. Afterward Bill loved to talk about riding up and down those sacred halls in his scooter. 

As Bill’s health continued to deteriorate, Vonette became more and more involved in working with those who ran Campus Crusade, while still caring for her husband and helping him with his writing. At the same time, her own commitments were growing.

One day the dreaded news came that Bill was now confined to his bed and did not have much time left to live.  My wife and I were invited to come to say goodbye.

When we entered the house, we had to take off our shoes and wear face masks as we were led into the bedroom. Bill had a face mask and tubes inserted in parts of his body but was propped up with pillows and welcomed us without mentioning the heath problems, complimented my wife, and we had fifteen minutes of good interchange. He was as excited and enthusiastic as ever. He had to parcel out his final hours and tired easily, so those who were visiting him had to keep the conversation short.

Now throughout all these visits and talks, I knew Vonette was on top of everything. I learned from Bill how they met and how this idea took place when they were in college. He always saw it as an equal partnership. Clearly, Vonette saw it biblically-she was his helpmeet. And Bill saw no definition of “helpmeet” that in any way contemplated one of the team as more important than the other.

So this column is dedicated to Vonette Bright with appreciation for the great woman she was, the fantastic writer and speaker she became, the organization to which she and her husband gave birth, and to her understanding and acceptance of the role of “help meet.” 

A “help meet” might well not be a spouse. All of us have someone who probably occupies this role. 

I am blessed to have had a “help meet” for 47 years who has fulfilled the role as defined in our religion. For this I am grateful. 

I urge my readers to think of this concept, not necessarily in a religious sense, but rather to discover and acknowledge your partners in life.