Faith, Family & Community
I have two ties. Well, as a minister I have plenty of ties, but two are different. The first of these two ties that I received was originally worn by a church member who was also my neighbor. If you have been around Macomb for a while, you may remember Tweed Mummert, a local businessman who owned a gas station not far from the train station for many years. He loved Macomb. And WIU. Tweed loved his wife Nikki more than anyone or anything. He was happy and proud to raise his family in this community. Tweed was well-respected and won many civic honors. Just a few years before his passing he was recognized for his efforts in founding the Flags of Love which adorn Chandler Park at various times of the year. I remember Tweed as one who never gave up, funny, opinionated, thoughtful and an avid Cubs fan. One day as my wife, Anne, and I were walking our dogs, Tweed came running out of his house, insisting that we come in. He made us bring the dogs too. There was something he wanted to show us. It was a poem, framed in glass on his living room wall. Anne and I had been holding hands. The poem was about a couple holding hands forever. It was one of the last gifts Tweed received from Nikki. He loved and missed his beloved.
At his passing Tweed’s daughter, Darlos, had me come to the house to pick out a tie or two. The first time I wore that tie was during a celebration of the birthday of the Rev. Dr. C. T. Vivian at First Christian Church (Disciples of Christ), my church. We had a guest preacher and a lively and larger than usual congregation. Some of the Vivian family attended. We celebrate communion every week. I was serving at the communion table. And I talked about Tweed’s tie that I was wearing. “Why?”, you might ask. The reason was that Tweed and C. T. were friends. From way back during their school days. One day as I was sitting on Tweed’s couch, Cubs game on TV, he was telling me about his friend. Tweed thought we as a community needed to celebrate Dr. Vivian more because he was the most distinguished and prominent person to ever live in Macomb.
At the table, I shared this story of a friendship that overcame great odds because of the times these two men lived. I shared how special the tie was to me. After the service, one of Dr. Vivian’s daughters met me on the steps. JoJo shared how special the relationship between the Mummert and Vivian families had been over the years. She was glad to hear my story. And then she said to me, “I need to get you one of Daddy’s ties. I think we still have a couple.”
I have a second tie. JoJo was persistent. And while it took a couple of months, one day my phone rang as I was having an early dinner with Anne. We were at a restaurant on the square. JoJo was in town for a funeral, had the tie and wanted to deliver it right then. So she came to the restaurant. I have a tie that was once worn by one of the greatest civil rights leaders our country has ever known—of one who was identified by MLK, JR. as the best preacher he ever heard. I have a tie from the collection of Macomb’s most prominent citizen.
But, I have two ties. Ties that remind me of friendship that overcomes all barriers. Ties that remind me of what is really important. Ties that represent hope.
Isn’t there a good ol’ church song about how blessed are the ties that bind?
Peace Friends.
Kelly Ingersoll, Minister
Kelly Ingersoll is the Pastor of First Christian Church of Macomb and resides in Macomb with his wife Anne.
