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The Right Hand Lane   9-4-2003

For most of our married lives, Bunny and I have lived away from family. It was not just, “Around the corner” away, but rather “Let’s drive all night while the kids sleep” away. We would spend many a vacation or holiday traveling the highways to and from loved ones’ homes. The longest trips were from Sebewaing, MI, to Littleton, CO. (We did drive that one non-stop – once.)
 
I like to drive the speed limit. That means that I have spent most of my driving time in the right hand lane watching cars and sometimes trucks pass me by. I have learned some interesting lessons in the right hand lane. I know that I will arrive at the same destination as the people driving in the fast lane. I know that it is easier to spot rest area signs from the right hand lane. It is also easier to spot McDonald’s arches and the Shell gas stations from the right hand lane. I know that the older a child gets, the more vocal they become about being in a slow car. (I once tried a math problem to show that speeding doesn’t pay.  “If car A travels 5 MPH faster than car B and each travels 100 miles after leaving from the same place on the same road in the same direction, how long will it take car B at a steady speed of 65 MPH to reach car A after car A reaches the destination?”)
 
I still drive the right hand lane. Most mornings that means that I have to stop to let cars enter the highway. I usually enjoy this. The drivers smile at me, some wave, all feel good because they are “in the flow.” It is a good feeling to be nice to others. Sometimes I say a prayer for a driver who weaves in and out of traffic – looking for an advantage – to gain a minute or two of time. I pray he arrives safe without harm to himself or others.
 
The older I get, the more I treasure the time I have with family and friends. It would be great if we could get in a car and travel the right hand lane – savoring and enjoying our time together. I particularly want to slow down time I spend with Bunny. I want each minute to last for an hour, each hour for a day (sounds like a song from “West Side Story”) and each day for eternity.
 
But we will end our journey together – only to be caught up in a heavenly journey.  What joy, peace, and comfort to know that our heavenly journey will be timeless.
 
May you have joy in your journey.  (6.63 minutes is the answer to the math problem.)

Memories   9-11-2003

September 11, 2001 – a date long remembered as a day of sorrow – a day for heroes – a day of sacrifice.  September 11, 2003 – a day of memories – of courageous acts – of sacrifices made – of loved ones departed.
 
I have said good-bye to loved ones. Loved ones who have been called home to heaven. Loved ones who are alive in my heart and mind. Loved ones I recall with happy memories.
 
Bunny’s dad was a hard working, sacrificing, Christian man. He worked in the steel mills in Gary, IN. His life was one of hard work and deep love for his family, fishing and God. He was a man of few words, but powerful actions. He grew up in southern Indiana and lived through the Depression. He told us that he sang Gospel songs on the radio, rode the rails across America, and worked as a soda jerk in the Famous-Barr department store in St. Louis. He also told us that he only had $10 to his name when he married and could not afford a church wedding – that he was married by a Justice of the Peace. (We found his marriage certificate – he was married in church. He could tell good stories.)
 
He was a pool player. He hustled me one day when he invited me to play pool on his new pool table set up in the garage. Bunny and I were engaged and spent the afternoon with him and future mom-in-law. He took me out back and we played pool – I won. Then we played pool for money – I won. Then we upped the stakes – I lost all of my money. He put his arm around my shoulder and said, “ You learned a valuable lesson today. If you want to provide for your wife, don’t lose all of your money on a game you are no good at.” He then gave me all of my money back, plus $5.00. Every time I see a pool table I think of Pa Conrad.
 
He left this world, but lives on through his children. Bunny has many of her dad’s traits – love of fishing, hard work, and a love for God.
 
Each of us will be remembered by someone. Each of us touches lives. Each of us gives a witness in our actions and words. I pray that all of my actions and words will witness to Christ.  

Work to Do    9-18-2003

Have you ever felt useless? I have. There are times when I feel it would be better for me and for those around me if God would just call me home – now. These feelings are rare, but they are very real when they hit.
 
I had a conversation with a very sweet lady the other day. She was feeling useless. Her husband had entered Heaven and she was struggling with all the responsibilities of life left to fall on her. Bills, household concerns, and loneliness left her discouraged and doubting her worth and place on this earth.
 
My Dad experienced a time when he felt useless. His children were grown and living on their own. Dad watched his children make mistake after mistake – with their money, with their home repairs, and with their children. Dad lamented, “I have all of this knowledge, all this experience, and no one cares.”
 
Each of us has experienced our own personal times of despair, doubt, and lack of self-worth. This should not surprise us. We are sinners. We live in a sin-filled world. As long as we are on earth, we will experience pain, suffering, and troubles. Yes, we know all that, but it hurts just the same.
 
I once was told, “God has great plans for you.”
 
When I asked, “How do you know?”
 
“You woke up this morning.”
 
Yes, God has plans for you – great plans. He does not allow more than what you can handle – no matter how much we disagree with that. God does provide a way out. Sometimes the way out is a friend we can confide in, a family member we share with, or a scripture passage we read. No matter how many times I have felt useless, the feeling passes and I can see how valuable I am in God’s eyes. He sent Jesus to suffer my punishment. I will enter heaven – someday, not today. Today I have other work to do.

One Brick at a Time    9-25-2003

“One brick at a time” is the answer I received when I asked John how he planned to build the church wall. It was a Saturday and I was standing next to the foundation for Faith Lutheran church in Mundelein, Illinois. As a junior in high school, it was my task to help the men who did the actual building of the church. I was assigned to help John, the bricklayer. It was the first day on the job and I was unsure of my duties, unsure of how this wall would be built.
 
John patiently explained to me how to mix mortar – my main task. He impressed upon me the importance of accuracy in measuring the ingredients. I needed to be accurate to avoid creating a weak mortar. The brick wall would only be as strong as the mortar; hence my job was critical to the longevity of the building. (Perhaps my memories are colored by time and the fact that he was impressing upon me the importance of following directions.)
 
My other job was to carry the bricks to him, as he needed them. I had fun. That was one of the most enjoyable times of my high school church experiences. I also learned a lot from John as he troweled the mortar across the course of bricks, tapped each brick into place, and shared his wisdom and faith.  He explained that each brick was important to the whole wall – no one brick could be removed without weakening the whole structure, just like each member of the congregation was important. Each brick was carefully placed and positioned, just like we are placed into positions in life. Each wall is built – one brick at a time, just as we accomplish great things – one small task at a time. (He also shared advice about respecting parents, picking out marriage partners, and what was the best car.)
 
John was called to heaven not long after the church was built. He became ill and was in the hospital room. He asked Pastor to pray with him. He started, “Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be Thy name, Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done…” it was then that he entered paradise.
 
John lived his life one brick at a time. I try to live my life one brick at a time – breaking down big jobs into little pieces, solving small problems, with dramatic results.

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