A ragged newsprint clipping* caught my eye while sorting my grandmother Lillie’s papers shortly after her death in 2011: “Janitor Leaves Fortune to Bible College.”
Intrigued, I looked closer.
The brief report from Ankeny, Iowa, shared the intriguing life story of Christian Thomsen (a distant cousin, according to Grandma’s extensive family tree). Born in 1897, Christian immigrated to the U.S. from Denmark after World War I to pursue theological training.
Though he returned to Denmark briefly, Christian came back to the States in 1927, settling in Des Moines, Iowa. He spent the next 56 years employed as a janitor for Northwestern Bell Telephone Company, working well into his 80s. He never married, never owned a car (never even learned to drive). He lived simply, quietly, and frugally, going to work, attending church, and taking frequent nature walks.
Most would describe his life as unremarkable.Perhaps that is why the community expressed amazement when, after his death at age 101, this unassuming man left $1.1 million to a nearby Bible college and another undisclosed “substantial sum” to his church. The article quoted his friend and executor Craig Hastings, who mused, “We are reaping the benefits of a man who dedicated his entire life to the Lord.”
Wow! What an epitaph.
I’ve kept that worn clipping on my desk for more than a decade as a reminder not to overlook the “janitors” in my life. I’m afraid we sometimes embrace cultural ideals of success — prestige, power, looks, wealth, public generosity, influence, communication skills, awards — over quiet faithfulness.
Jesus never made that mistake. He pointed to an unnamed widow’s coins as an example of faithful and sacrificial giving (Luke 21:1-4), used a young lad’s lunch of fish and bread to demonstrate the amazing things God can do with the least amount offered freely to Him (Matthew 14), and taught His disciples to be faithful in small things (Luke 16:10), so they would be prepared for more.
Jesus values everyday faithfulness.
The older I get, the more I, too, appreciate the quiet — and sometimes not-so-quiet — people who faithfully carry out the work of the Lord. They sit with the homebound, unlock doors and turn on lights, clean bathrooms, prepare snacks, teach Sunday School, comfort the grieving, mow the church grounds, tithe faithfully, and share Christ unashamedly. (This list of “little” tasks could go on for days.) Best of all are those who serve faithfully with no desire for recognition. I have a feeling Jesus has placed a “gold star” beside their names as good and faithful servants.
I wish I could have met Cousin Christian, the theologically-trained janitor who probably cleaned toilets every day of his working life yet never forgot his real Employer. Sounds like my kind of guy, and I’m glad he was in my family.
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, mind your own business, and work with your hands, as we instructed you. That way your daily life will win the respect of the world around you (paraphrased from 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
* Please note: the clipping contained only title and text. A thorough
Web search failed to provide a coordinating paper for citation.
About the Columnist:Eric K. Thomsen is managing editor of ONE Magazine.
