Privileged
Going to funerals usually has a contemplitivising effect on me; I come away thinking of my own last time at church. (That’s where I want my final rite of passage held.) On Saturday I did the Words of Comfort and Hope for my cousin Rudy Leutzinger at South Bend, Indiana. He was only a little more than an year younger I am, but he was a Christ-follower. I came away with a sense of great privilege. My thanks go to Donna and Bill, Rudy’s wife and son, for asking me to minister in that way. I have done funerals for three of my cousins, Ralph Leutzinger, John Douglas Beukema, and now Rudy; and it has been an honor.
When my generation of the Leutzingers was complete, cousin John was born in 1965, there were 36 of us. (We had lost Connie Lou and gained Jim Larnard.) I was fourth to be born; there are now 26 of us with Rudy's passing. I did not love a course in statistics that I had to take for my Master's, but I remember enough to realize that the fourth to be born out of 36, ten having passed, and my still being alive defies the law of averages -- I am privileged and blessed.
There are many other ways in which I am blessed; I will probably write more about those soon. Yesterday, I had the privilege of being the minister of the Plainwell Presbyterian Church: that will continue for a few weeks. I am sure that I'll write more about being a Presbyterian in the next couple weeks. Today I just want to celebrate my heritage and be thankful for my longevity. Thank you Lord, you fill my cup to overflowing. (It also looks like a good day to get my bicycles and motorcycle out of winter hibernation.) I’ve already taken a spin on my highwheeler!
All our days of
Threescore and ten,
Constitute a gift from Heaven.
And, if by reason of strength,
More --
Configure a bonus from the Lord.
I have lived the gift;
It is gone.
The Bonus I am now in
For --
I don’t know how long.
Glory awaits, but
Unlike the bonus and the gift --
Forever I will live, live, live
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