Tribute to a Mentor

 

In many ways I had lost my way in the winter of 1964.  I had graduated from Lutheran High School East the previous spring.  I did not have much to show for my four years at LHE.  While most of my classmates had plans for college, I woke the morning after graduation with no agenda.  That’s what happens when you are ranked in the bottom 10% of your class.  Other than a varsity letter in cross country, I was ranked 7^th on the team, I had accomplished little.  I was not a bad kid, just one with low self-esteem, who therefore let others make decisions for me.

That is probably why I enrolled in trade school.  My friend, Chuck Denner, was heading there to study electronics and he convinced me to tag along.  It took me six weeks to discover that I had no aptitude for or interest in electronics, and another six weeks to make the decision to quit.  My dad intervened.  The church janitor was having health issues and needed an assistant, and I needed a job.  He strongly suggested it would be a good match.  Hence my career in ministry began cleaning bathrooms, emptying wastebaskets and making sure the church lawn was trimmed. 

Our church had a vicar that year.  Part of my daily routine was visiting his office to collect his trash.  We always had a brief visit.  It did not stop there.  We started sharing our “brown bag lunch” together.  He was a Cardinal Fan and I rooted for the Tigers.  Bob Gibson was his hero and mine was Al Kaline.  We also talked about life.  He was the first person who planted the seed that maybe I could do something with mine.  I had to admit that my past poor choices were weighing on me and I was having trouble sleeping.  At his encouragement, I enrolled in a local college for the second semester.  I did well enough in the two classes that I took that I applied to Concordia Teachers College.  My vicar wrote a letter of recommendation.  Much to my surprise, they accepted me.  So, in the fall of 1965 I headed off to River Forest, Illinois to begin my journey in ministry.  I was motivated.  I wanted to work with kids and help them make better choices than I had.

I am sharing that story now because my first mentor recently died.  His name was Alan Harre.  Dr. Harre served his vicarage at St. James Lutheran Church in Grosse Pointe, Michigan.  He returned to St. James and served as associate pastor while working on his doctorate at Wayne State University.  He went on to join the faculty at Concordia College in Seward, Nebraska and then served as president at Concordia-St. Paul.  He then spent over twenty years as President of Valparaiso University.  It was there that our paths crossed again, when our son Mark, went to Valpo as a student. 

I thought of Dr. Harre often as I worked with students.  He is the reason I always had a heart for the kids who seemed to slip between the cracks.  It was easy to work with the star athletes and the students who were motivated academically.  I sought out the ones who blended in, or worse yet were ignored.  At graduation my colleagues would applaud the honor students, but I always did a “happy dance” for the kids who were just walking across the stage to get their diploma.  Often, I was the only one who knew their back-stories. 

Now you know mine.

Rest in peace, Dr. Harre.  Well done faithful servant.

 

 

 

 

Wilderness Wanderings

 

The Children of Israel spent forty years wandering in the wilderness.  What should have been a one-year journey from Egypt to Palestine was extend because of some poor decisions made by their leaders early in the trip.  At the root of the problem was a lack of faith.  As a result, people were inconvenienced and many lost their lives.  I believe God put the story in the Bible in hope that we might learn from their experience.

I have been focusing on the Children of Israel and their trials in the wilderness a lot over the last few weeks.  I see some similarities in our current situation.  We are now five months into the COVID-19 pandemic and there is no site of the end.  In my opinion, some decisions made by our leaders early in the pandemic has lengthened the journey.  The “promised land” of normalcy seems a long way off, as we wait for a vaccine. Like the Children of Israel, we have no conception [T1] [T2]  of what life after the pandemic will look like. 

As I studied the story in Exodus, I note that two things sustained the Children of Israel during their wilderness wanderings.  God provided for their needs and he was also visibly present in their lives.  On a daily basis he gave them the gift of manna and quail so they could eat.  He also miraculously supplied them with water, even though they were in a barren land.  He also led them throughout their journey with a cloud during the day and a pillar of fire at night.  The religious leaders also constructed the Tabernacle where they could worship.  It also served as a “tent of meetings” so Moses could personally converse with Yahweh.

As I wander through this wilderness of the COVID-19 pandemic I am very much aware of God’s presence.  In many ways this has been a spiritual journey unlike any I have ever experienced.  I am reminded of God’s goodness each morning during my personal quiet time and at night after turning off the light.  I have a scripture verse that I select each day.  Those words sustain me each day.  God is good, and Barb and I have lacked for nothing during this time, aside from the obvious absence of fellowship.  God’s Word serves as my cloud and pillar of fire. 

Aaron’s words still sustain me:

“The Lord bless you and keep you;

The Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

(Numbers 6:24-26)

 

 

 

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Is Our Freedom Killing Us?

 

Like most older adults, I do not venture out much these days.  Other than trips to the doctor and dentist, my only times out are to go to the store.  I cannot say that I have adjusted to the new normal, but I usually feel safe when shopping.  The employees are all wearing mask and in general folks seem to be social distancing.  It is difficult to be friendly with people when they cannot see your smile, and even showing gratitude toward the person at the checkout counter is difficult when they are behind a Plexiglas barrier.

I did encounter one exception to the COVID-19 protocol when visiting my favorite Aldi last week.  There was clearly a sign on the door informing shoppers that “face mask is required.”  Normally there is even an off-duty Dallas Policeman stationed on security duty near the front of the door.  In the midst of my shopping there was one woman who seemed oblivious to the rules.  She moved up and down the aisle seemingly unaware of the guidelines that were set down to protect her and others.  She was not wearing a mask and she seemed to be ignoring the directional arrows on the floor.  I would have estimated that the offender was about my age.  The way that she was dressed led me to believe that she led a very comfortable lifestyle.  It was hard not thinking, “she should know better.”

Unfortunately, she represented a certain segment of the population that, A) thinks the pandemic is a hoax or B) believes the requirement to wear a mask is a violation of their freedom.  Either way, I think those folks, estimated to be around 10% of the population, are responsible for the pandemic still being out of control.  It is not just the bikers who recently gathered in Sturgis, South Dakota or the college students who are seen partying on the beach.  There are a good number of older adults who are ignoring the plea to “wear a mask.”

The debate continues on the source of the virus and even whether or not it is part of a conspiracy.  Health experts world-wide are calling it a pandemic.  They are united in their appeal to social distance and “wear a mask.”  In the midst of this the United States seems to be the one country that cannot get things under control.  I believe we are also the only country that has turned the “wearing of a mask” into a political issue.  As a result, our freedom is literally killing us. 

COVID-19 is real.  In April, my 97-year-old uncle died from the virus.  I have talked online with folks who have battled through the virus and their testimony is all the proof I need.  Don’t mess with COVID-19.  Anything you can do to prevent the spread should be a requirement. 

This is especially the case for older adults, who cannot afford to get the virus and should also be taking the lead in stopping its spread.  I do not like being sheltered at home.  It saddened me to have a family gathering where we could not hug each other.  Wearing a mask is not comfortable, but I also know it is the thing to do.  The Bible is clear in the command to obey those in authority.  In this case the voices are unilateral in their plea… “wear a mask.”

 

 

Bible Reading Down During the Pandemic

A good number of years ago I was serving as the head of hotel life team for a national youth gathering.  As is typical, we have a meeting with the hotel staff prior to the event.  In addition to the hotel convention manager representatives from the other departments within the hotel from the front desk to catering were present.  In the middle of the meeting the hotel manager stopped by introduce herself.  I was immediately impressed.  There was something about her that led me to see her as someone who was a cut above.  When she stated, “If you have an issue that you feel is not being handled well, let me know.”  While I would have expected such an invitation, I sensed this person meant it.

We did have an issue, but time has caused me to forget what it even was.  I just remember being frustrated.  One morning I happened to pass by the manager’s office and notice that her door was open.  I knocked on her door and she invited me in with a smile.  As she stood to greet me, I noticed an open Bible on her desk.  She listened and promised to address the concern immediately.  When I commented on the Bible, she said that she started each day with a scripture and kept the Bible open all day as a reminder.

The experience stayed with me.  At that point in my life, my devotional life left much to be desired.  Being a full-time DCE, husband and father were taking its toll on me.  From then on, starting each day in the office in Gods Word became my routine.  During my years as a high school counselor I started the pattern of having my devotional time at home.  The reality of my world at that time was when I walked in the door to school my time was not my own. 

The importance of my private devotional time has become vital during this pandemic.  Like most home-bound folks, I have struggled to stay productive and positive.  My search to find some spiritual support has led me re-read some of my favorite devotional books by Max Lucado.  I have also discovered the writing of Robert Farrar Capon.  I am weathering this storm because I am into God’s Word on a daily basis.

I share this in light of a disturbing new report.  The American Bible Society, in cooperation with the Barna Group, does an annual State of the Bible survey.  According to their newest data, Bible reading as sunk to an all-time low since the beginning of the Pandemic. The percentage of Christians who read the Bible on a daily basis has dropped from 9%, down from 12% a year ago. 

I really view this as a challenge.  It is a personal challenge to ramp up my own study of God’s Word in preparation for my personal walk of discipleship.  It is also an encouragement to find ways to encourage others to come along side me in this walk.  If we are to survive this difficult time and come our strong on the other side, we need to rely more on God’s power and less on our own planning and busyness.