 “Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile.”
—Albert Einstein
As his children endeavor to explain the enigma that is Dr. Charles Ward Kelly, my older brother, Owen, will often say: “he did what he thought he had to do.” I’m acquiring a better understanding of just what that means.
My physician-dad was a respected member of his community because almost everyone in our hometown knew he was a doctor. And since he was so seldom around, I thought that was the only explanation. In later years I’ve discovered other reasons. He helped a lot of people in our area—beyond medically—about which he never bragged.
Since his passing more than a year ago, several people have come up to me and said “your father helped me buy my house.” While the “your father saved my life” refrain is quite familiar to me (all doctors’ children hear it), I admitted to some confusion about what he somehow did to secured their place of residence.
Now it makes sense. As that esteemed neighborhood medicine man in the 1960s and 70s, Dad was asked to serve on the loan approval committee of our local bank. Although he wasn’t much of a businessman (the guy had to practice until age 75), I will say he did have an atypical understanding of human nature.
When the bank committee would review loan applications and potentiality disqualifying questions would arise, his standard line was “if they don't pay you back, I will.” While hardly the stuff of sound banking practices, his faith in others seemed to do the trick. Ultimately, the loans were satisfied and the people were better citizens for it.
I doubt if dad had the means to “guarantee” those loans; forget about whether the bank could have legally bought into the offer. I do know that the financing was approved and people he helped back then never forgot his kindness and support. And why not? For most Americans buying property is still the biggest thing they’ll ever do.
In these depersonalized times when even people with good credit are being turned down for bank loans, I marvel about a period when one man’s faith helped others to believe in themselves and also improved the community as a whole.
Now that’s what I call healing.
112%—Percentage increase in US home foreclosure filings in the first quarter of 2008 from the prior quarter.
(CNBC, 2008)
Read More:
• Finding Balance in a Medical Career
• Real Estate: When to Get In?
• Being the Family Banker
• Bank or Credit Union?
• Good Credit No Protection From Bad Loans |
