One of my morning walks around part of Fountain Lake in Albert Lea I look up at the new water tower and see two workers at the very top of the water tower. As I’m watching a pelican comes into my view right beside the very top and the two workers. The pelican sets his wings and glides around the workers. The workers spot the pelican as the pelican continues gliding around them at the top. THe pelican does the fly around three times. Why?? I have no idea, do you??
One of my highlights of walking around Fountain Lake was visiting with Matthew Anderson and his Doggie Max. (It just recently became necessary to relieve Max of his greeting duties with another dog.) In two consecutive morning walks I don’t see Mr. Anderson or his new doggie. After the second morning I hear of the man in Fountain Lake and then a body being found in Fountain Lake. The body was identified as Matthew Anderson, the friendly Fountain Lake greeter.
Our morning conversations were usually about deer hunting, fishing and sometimes politics. (Him leaning towards Trump and my leaning against Trump.) He and I were military veterans in complete agreement with serving the U.S.A.
Air Force veteran Matt, I’d very much appreciate some sort of sign from you as I’m on my deer hunting stand this fall by the big fish on highway two on the shore of Winnie by Bena, Minnesota.
On Saturday night November 2, 1996 we got a telephone call from Genie’s Dad. “Watch the news, your church is on fire.” Our church, “Central Freeborn Lutheran Church” burned to the ground, a total loss.
After many tears and a huge benefit with matching funds from at that time Aid Association for Lutherans (AAL now Thrivent) and other benefits for Central Freeborn the decision was made to rebuild at the same location. Reverend Linda Gunderson was put in the position of being the pastor of a non-existent church while re-building at the same location as the burned church.
Time went by and a new church was built with the first service January 24, 1999. Reverend Linda now had a church building!!
Fast forward to 2023. Reverend Linda retired in June from a Lutheran church in Delaware. She was at her lakeshore property in northern Minnesota when suffering a stroke in July - causing her change in residence to that room promised her.
As you are reading this column, I like the following thoughts:
Grief never ends,
But it changes,
It’s a passage,
Not a place to stay.
Grief is not a sign of weakness,
Nor a lack of faith.
It is the Price of Love.
Amen.
P.S. Genie is a great lady in my life. Whether in thoughts, in person or by mail – please think of her as she celebrates another octogenarian birthday Saturday, August 12, 2023.
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Bob is a retired AAL (Aid Association for Lutherans) agent, currently working on his master’s degree in Volunteering. His wife, Genie, is a retired RN, currently working on her doctor’s degree in Volunteering. They have two children, Deb in North Carolina, and Dan in New York. Bob says if you enjoy his column, let him know. If you don’t enjoy it, keep on reading, it can get worse. Words of wisdom: There is always room for God.