Lyfting Me Up

My Grandma Opal was a force of nature. She was born in 1893 in Des Moines, Iowa where her father Charles Stout had finished school at Drake University, and was preparing to be an Evangelist/Church Planter for the Christian Church “out West”. When she was very young the family moved to Paonia, CO where her dad founded the First Christian Church and started a fruit ranch.

At age twenty she was in the first graduating class that allowed women to attend, from Colorado Normal School (later known as Northern Colorado University). She then took her first teaching assignment at Blanco Basin, Colorado, at a one—room school house. She was always the teacher.

“Stop Just before the At”. I don’t know how many times she corrected me. It is not—“Where is it at”? You just say “Where is it”? To this day when I hear that mistake I want to correct it. Clearly, it is where it is.

“The Steady Drop Wears the Rock”. It’s pretty self explanatory if you know anything about Colorado Geography/Geology. Water over time is nature’s perfect solvent. Those beautiful river rocks were once jagged. This was perseverance 101. I can’t tell you how many times I have heard those words as I continue to show up at seemingly endless tasks. I did my Doctorate from 1992-95 while serving two churches, raising teenagers, and having a life. I would rise every morning at 5am and read and write until 7:30. Her words would encourage me as to the importance of discipline (which is something I don’t have naturally). As we say in my other life— “One Day at a Time”.

“It’s a Good Life if you don’t weaken”. This one has only taken on deeper meaning as I will be turning 77 this week. I have survived four hospitalizations, all four caused by microbes. I owe my life to these things: wonderful medical care, family and friends who are great cheerleaders, my love of life, that still small voice that said “we have got this”, and my stubbornness. This Sunday I am coming off the bench to help rebuild another congregation. It is great a privilege to share with a congregation who won’t give up. Evergreen Christian Church is trusting Sergio Mazza and me, along with a tenacious cadre of folks to reboot their ministry.

Yes, I am excited and very hopeful. I have shared the renewal of both lives and congregations. At the top of that list is my own life. I will never forget Opal telling me the story of how her dad left Paonia in a Model T Ford in 1921, to rebuild a church in Casper, Wyoming. She told me this as I was getting ready to head off to Alamosa for my third reboot. (Read three weeks ago blog).

“Well, at least I still have all my marbles”. We were sitting in the dining room of the Senior Residence where she lived for 13 years, having lunch. I don’t remember what prompted her to say this from her wheelchair : “Mark, look around at all of those people. Some of them are doing quite well, others of them don’t remember who they are or where they are. Oh yes, they can walk and move about but they don’t really have any idea what they are doing. I have been confined to this wheelchair for the last couple years, but I do know who and where I am. If I had to choose between mobility and keeping my marbles I would take the latter”. “You certainly have Grandma. You are my inspiration.”

In my battle with Long Covid I find myself looking at my marble collection in the cabinet. As I hobble around the house I still know where my marbles are. I hope Evergreen Christian Church can see past my blue rollator to a man who feels up to the task of wearing down the rock.

Onward and Upward,

Mark