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Your Turn / Re: why we came this way...
« on: August 13, 2010, 08:39:50 AM »
I am a child of the 50's and 60's. My parents took me to Sunday school and church each Sunday and I attended Lutheran elementary school and high school. For 12 years I attended daily chapel. I came to love the Scriptures, the liturgy, and the hymns of the church. I do have friends who seem to recall this is an oppressive time, "you must believe as we instruct you." Honestly, I don't recall that at all. I remember being enveloped in love of those who taught me.
The past few months have been a struggle. On April 30th, I lost my job after 21 years. In July a mass was discovered under my liver. It was removed - margins are clean - markers came out well. All seemed good. Now a follow up path report is stating that this is not the primary site; however, this is an "indolent" cancer, very non-aggressive. I'm not sure what I'm facing. I'm waiting to see a medical oncologist.
Why am I sharing this news within this thread? Just this morning (so ironic this topic was posted), I sat awake in bed thinking of those who taught me the faith: my parents, Pastor Giese, Pastor B. Von Schenck, Pastor J. Von Schenck, Darlene Kirchoff Quiram (our deaconness), Clifford Koening and so many other teachers I had over twelve years, Dr. Benke in Diakonia -- I thought of them with much thanksgiving to God for their presence in my life and for their unequivocal teaching of faith - Scripture - Law and Gospel - for now, that is really the only constant I have in my life - the only thing that now brings me peace.
We are all, in various ways, charged with teaching the faith - to our young people, to one another. I pray that we might follow some of those who taught back then - what might have seemed oppressive to some seems better than the proverbial smorgasbord our young people are offered by some in our ?enlightened? day.
The past few months have been a struggle. On April 30th, I lost my job after 21 years. In July a mass was discovered under my liver. It was removed - margins are clean - markers came out well. All seemed good. Now a follow up path report is stating that this is not the primary site; however, this is an "indolent" cancer, very non-aggressive. I'm not sure what I'm facing. I'm waiting to see a medical oncologist.
Why am I sharing this news within this thread? Just this morning (so ironic this topic was posted), I sat awake in bed thinking of those who taught me the faith: my parents, Pastor Giese, Pastor B. Von Schenck, Pastor J. Von Schenck, Darlene Kirchoff Quiram (our deaconness), Clifford Koening and so many other teachers I had over twelve years, Dr. Benke in Diakonia -- I thought of them with much thanksgiving to God for their presence in my life and for their unequivocal teaching of faith - Scripture - Law and Gospel - for now, that is really the only constant I have in my life - the only thing that now brings me peace.
We are all, in various ways, charged with teaching the faith - to our young people, to one another. I pray that we might follow some of those who taught back then - what might have seemed oppressive to some seems better than the proverbial smorgasbord our young people are offered by some in our ?enlightened? day.