Yesterday I discussed the nature of stuttering and how air flow is the critical component, as illustrated in "The King's Speech". Singing is never a problem as there is air flow. Shouting is never a problem or saying things very loudly, and therefore preaching has always essentially, for me, been stammer-free. I raise my voice a lot ..... not so much to emphasise a point, but to avoid stammering.
I spoke about how the Lord led me to a girl who became my wife who had a hearing defect (her mum had German Measles when pregnant). Sweet nothings were loud sweet nothings – I could say them and Delma could hear them! I've always said our 39 years of marriage has been one of bliss as Delma can't hear and I can't talk.
I want now to illustrate that being a stutterer should not inhibit anyone from following your dreams and opening yourself to serving the Lord.
Stuttering doesn't need to be an impediment
One never stop being a stammerer - as a stutterer all my life and over these past 39 years in Christian ministry, it hasn't curtailed my Ministry as I have:
Been ordained as a Baptist Minister,
Been Chaplain to the Australian Cricket Team for 17 years (retiring end of 2000), and establishing Life After Cricket in 2001,
Founded the Sports and Leisure Ministry under Heads of Churches (1982-2000),
Negotiated chaplaincy ministry 'face to face' to all codes of Australian professional sports,
Been awarded the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis, Olympian of the Century,
Established The Basil Sellers Moruya and Tweed "Respite facilities" for AIS athletes and the cricket family and the missionary respite house at Laguna Quays on the Whitsundays.
Established the Basil Sellers Art Prize (Moruya) and two Basil Sellers Art Centres.
Written 24 books and theological advisor to Christian Today (Australia),
Anchorman for the Australian Missionary News IPTV,
Chairman of Well-Being Australia 2000 -
Telling our children (and now grandchild) many astonishing bed time stories (as illustrated in The King's Speech), ... and a lot else besides... there is not much a stammer' cannot do !! Stammers' have been prophets, kings, cricketers, preachers ....
The King's Speech
I related to so much of the movie "The King's Speech". It was living my life all over again: the struggle; the heartache; the loving wife; the family; the sheer determination; never say it can't be done ..... I was once described as being 'stubborn' ... one has to be, to win through the heartache and pain. Being laughed at or hearing sniggers when I stammer is part of life. Always has been.
The 1982 Churches of Christ Head of Church, Bob Smith years later, in 2005 addressed the NSW Council of Churches, published in 'Summa Supremo' where he spoke of my visit in 1982 regarding establishing the Sports Chaplaincy. Bob Smith said Mark Tronson had the most 'painful stutter'. Yet he sensed the Spirit of the Lord and said that the Sports Ministry released a breadth of other community ministries.
I've often reflected upon what I experienced as the, "spiritual power in stammering" when negotiating chaplaincy appointments. There was a sense in which the other party recognised something of a divine intervention - with someone who stammered so agonisingly. Distinguished sports journalist Roy Masters mentioned this in 1984 in his feature article on the fledgling sports ministry. In addition, many an occasion I perceived in my soul, the right direction to steer a conversation, the 'intuition' (discernment) was over powering.
Time and time again I witnessed a transforming sense of ownership of the chaplaincy or ministry project, on the part of the other party. 'The King's Speech' reiterated this strange phenomenon, whereby it was the responses of those closest to King George VI who heard his clarity in his 1939 'Call to War' speech.
Turning things around
The Lord sometimes choose who the world call eccentric or an odd-ball to initiate ministries outside the usual realm. Sports chaplaincy was one of these, as was respite for elite athletes, and as the Australian cricket team chaplaincy.
I am personally disappointed that Lionel Logue the King's speech therapist didn't receive a Knighthood for his services to the King, as, in my mind, these services to the Commonwealth (formerly the British Empire) was greater than many others whose efforts have been rewarded in this way.
But I'm biased as I stutter... one of 460,000 Australians. The Lord loves stammerers!
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html