She is a modest person. So I knew I would need to argue her into submission about this column but I’m willing to do it. I want to tell you about Marty Folsom. She is the graphic/designer, publications and Web person for the Western North Carolina Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church. There are more than 1100 congregations in this part of United Methodism—almost 300,000 members. For about five years she has been President of the Deaf Ministry for this bunch of folk. (September is Deaf Ministry Month.) She also serves on the Commission on Communications for the entire United Methodist denomination.

     She’s on my short list of my favorite people in the whole world. Marty is a great person and a wonderful witness for Christ.

     One day last fall I wanted to talk to Marty. I rang up the Conference Office and asked to speak with her. There was an awkward pause by the person who answered the phone. “Well, sir, Marty is deaf.” I was stunned for a moment. I knew that! But, I thought to myself, what has that got to do with anything? Then tears began to form in my eyes. I have known Marty for several years and I know she is deaf but she had caused me to forget that particular detail. If you ever meet Marty, you will notice that she speaks with a very slight accent that betrays her deafness. But it does not impair her ability to communicate in the least. She reads lips and lives her life to the fullest. She’s a mother and a busy professional woman. She has been deaf most of her life but she loves music, feels the rhythms. She always signs her letters: “Rejoice! Marty.” She is undeterred by what hearing persons would assume is a terrible barrier to communications. It’s no communication barrier for Marty! In addition to what she does for the church, she owns and operates her own graphics and writing business!

     Marty tells me that maybe the reason I forget she’s deaf is that she doesn’t view it as a disability. She views it as a “gift that opens up a huge horizon of possibilities and most of the time,” she says, “I have barely cracked the surface. I get to see things from perspectives that often make a difference in my life and the lives of others. Sometimes this is serious; other times, just plain fun. And sometimes—well, let me tell you a little secret—I just love not having to answer the phone.”

     Marty is quick to say that without God in her life, and without the presence of special friends, she would have missed the train. And she offers some interesting commentary about a surprising subject—listening! “Listening is hard work,” says this dear, deaf woman. “I know a lot of people who have good hearing, but they don’t listen worth a hoot. The best advice I ever had was from a counselor at Vocational Rehab, back in the early 70’s. After the big evaluation, he told me that I was already doing everything for myself that could be done in my situation. Then he said, ‘I’m going to give you one piece of advice, and if you never take another piece of advice in your life, please do this. Every day, you have to listen to people.’ He was talking about maintaining my listening skills. But the big dividend continues to be the sharing of hearts with others.”

     Now, how’s this for good advice from Marty? She’s a deaf person telling people who can hear to listen! It’s sage counsel from one whom I know to be a heck-of-a listener. So I say “Three cheers for Marty!” She’ll hear them and smile, because she is always listening!

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