Major Bosshardt: Example of Tolerance, Love and Compassion, Dies
Jun 25th, 2007 | 10 responses
Major Bosshardt, who is well-known and loved by every Dutch person, has died at age 94. Boshart was a Major in the Salvation Army and dedicated her life to the poor and addicted. She first became famous because she regularly visited the red light zone in Amsterdam, to talk to prostitutes, to listen to their stories, and to be there for them: she did not condemn them, she loved them. When asked why she always went to prostitutes and drug addicts, she said that, in the end, we are all sinners and that these people truly need her help and God’s love.
This is quite a tremendous loss for the Salvation Army and for the Dutch as a whole. The entire country mourns her death, and celebrates her life. May God bless her – and quite frankly, I am sure He will. This woman was truly filled with love and compassion. She hated no one; she loved everyone. Major Bosshardt served, and continues to serve, as an example to thousands, ten thousands, and even millions of people – whether they are Christian or not.
I was raised a member of the Salvation Army. My parents became, when I was 12 years old or something, Envoys. Envoys do not have a community of their own: they help the Captain (pastor) in their own city, and travel sometimes to other cities to lead services / sermons. I was raised, in a way, with Major Bosshardt. My parents talked (and still do) a lot about her – whenever she was on TV, we all ran to the TV and watched the show.
She laughed, she made us cry, but above all, she showed us what God’s love can accomplish in people’s lives and that not words, but actions matter – no matter how small those actions appear to be. Major Bosshardt taught us that one truly saves the world, by saving one. You do not have to save thousands of people, you do not have to change the lives of thousands of individuals for God to love you, for God to notice you, and for God to be there for you. God is always by your side and God loves you – no matter what you do. God’s love knows no boundaries, and Major Bosshardt constantly reminded us – all of us – of it.
It’s a sad day for the Dutch, it’s a good day for Major Bosshardt who finally meets the God she worshipped and served all her life.
Cross posted at my own blog.
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10 Responses to “Major Bosshardt: Example of Tolerance, Love and Compassion, Dies”
It’s encouraging to see that someone has had a positive experience with the Salvation Army.
What why? It’s quite popular here…
Well, in my personal opinion, it’s not God, but good people doing the loving and accepting. Still, if the end result is helping and comforting others, you can do it in the name of ANYTHING really.
Holly, I too would like to know why a positive experience with the SA is news. I’ve never heard anything bad about them, though I suppose they must have issues, just like all large NGOs.
The Salvation Army causes harm in the USA with proselytizing and anti-gay behavior. I never throw money in their kettles.
My first experience with SA was in 1973 when an SA officer came to my synagogue’s religious school to explain how they would “bring the continent to Christ.”
Michael, no disrespect intended from my way but I, too understand that the characterization of the organization as an “army” has it’s implied imperative, as Holly suggests. I have, alas, thrown many coins into the kettle, but would find it more difficult in our times, with our political climate such as it is, and with my recent loss of faith and de-commissioned belief in a supreme, loving being.
Additionally, as we hear of the decision of our Supreme Court to allow taxpayer’s dollars to support faith-based initiatives without dispute, those kettles might not need as much contribution from the porches of the grocery stores but will be instead taken as another part of my paycheck that I don’t spend myself.
That said, there are many religious organizations that do much good, and wonderful people within them that dedicate themselves to charity, hope for the oppressed, and service to the needy, the way I assume Bosshardt did. It’s a vision of Jesus’ message that’s well-described by contemporary theologians like Marcus Borg, and I like and respect that vision.
I ran upon an interesting post given to me by a friend, a 1904 writing by Mark Twain, that has something to say regarding a slightly different version of “army” blessed by the Lord.
The video is here: http://thewarprayer.com/war_film.html/
It’s very thought-provoking and I hope “moderate” and applicable for us all to ponder.
Respectfully,
Jeff P.
The War Prayer by Mark Twain, 1904, link is here:
http://thewarprayer.com/war_film.html
(Sorry the above link doesn’t seem to work…)
Jeff P
Condolences.
May she rest in peace.
Michael,
From several of the comments here, I think you’ll see that quite a few people take issue with the Salvation Army here. It would be interesting to find out more about them in the Netherlands since the group seems to be held in higher esteem there.
They have been involved in lawsuits concerning anti-discrimination laws here, and they are one of the many church groups that are in the difficult situation of providing social services while also trying to fulfill their religious mission. That’s where most of the negative responses are coming from; the concern that groups like this receive govt funding but practice discrimination in hiring. In addition, many Americans only know the SA as the “kettle people” who solicit funds at shopping malls during the holidays. Some of those folks can be a bit aggressive and I think sometimes people resent them.
It isn’t just hiring practices that are at issue. The SA are militant, according to many reports I’ve read, about sniffing out gay volunteers when doing relief work related to natural disasters.
They do good work, but their priotites seem highly questionable to many. Better to forgo providing food that to have food served by a homosexual?
Now I regret commenting about the SA-US style on a post about a particular person in the Netherlands
These are two separate topics that should have remained separate.