From the Pastor's Desk
Reverend David Kaul
“I am the resurrection and the life!”
Dear friends in Christ,
Thank you for your concern for my family and specifically my mother. She is presently refusing to eat solid foods and exists on a "delicious" milk shake at meal time. We rushed on flood challenged roads to see her in Hudson, WI. Traffic in the south lane of I- 94 was being rerouted due to the heavy rains and the breech of Lake Delton. Flood waters lapped at the road's edge, drowned tall trees, and pushed the Wisconsin River past manageable banks. Like little play toys entire houses were lifted up and cast against train tressels. Joan's heart and mine went out to these people and the problems before them. I can recall a game played with various confirmation classes. We asked, "If your house should catch on fire, what would you take with you?" For these nameless friends with flooded homes, it was no longer a game. Some had to choose between personal life and leaving behind everything for which they labored. Quickly I formed my list, the family pictures, my faith/a Bible, the people in my family, the cat and dog, various medications (I am now way past 50!), my wallet with drivers license and credit cards. Why do we load up the vessel of our lives with so many concerns? At what point did we allow the material to push out the spiritual? Why has family been made to wait on too many little occurrences? Perhaps these friends were asking other questions? Where will I find my next meal? Where will we live? Did my friend survive? Where do we begin again?
Mom's concerns are few. A nice soft blanket, a comfortable chair in which to lay back, a loving hand to hold, enjoying the loving presence of the people who surround her now are of chief concern. Quietly she sips liquid through a straw. "That was delicious" she says both blessing and affirmation for the one who waits beside her. She lays her head down. My mind is transported back to childhood memories of carefully read bed time stories, weekly trips to the library and the "deep rock"distributor for a case of pop, delicious Sunday meals, pins pricking my skin (Mom sewed our clothes), attending Sunday worship and her beautiful formal prayers, countless words of encouragement, the hot yellow and white topped Dodge Charger, (she was bookkeeper for a Dodge dealership) and favorite shirts whose colors were dramatically altered after a trip through the wash. My sisters deep reds were mixed in hot water with my madras pastels. Ugh!
"This person gave you life!" my mind shouts.
"Thank you, God." You can choose your friends but you can't choose your family. Count me among the lucky ones, the blessed ones, the thankful ones. "This one's a keeper!" as we folks from Wisconsin will say when we encounter something or some one of great worth.
Soon Jesus will come and sweep her into eternity. She'll be reunited with Dad, the love of her life and my sister Kris, who broke her heart when she died of lymphoma. "All things new", "I am resurrection and life." Precious promises spoken from God. They bring comfort, healing and peace.
See you at worship,
P. Dave