Today's staff meeting was sparse - just Chaplain Fred and myself. Pastor Nick was at a doctor's appointment (I had met with him earlier), Elaine Allshouse was out sick (still recovering from her last chemo treatment), and Nancy Ahlstrom, our Office Manager, I can touch base with anytime, so I let her continue her work in the office.
So I sat down and started listening to Fred. I learned a long time ago that Fred doesn't give you a 5-minute, bullet-point summary of his week. He tells you stories of his visits to various persons and how God is working in each one's life. This should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows Fred. He is a lover of people, because he is first and foremost a lover of God.
But today's conversation was extra-special, because we weren't in a rush. No other staff members were giving reports. Anything I had to say from an administrative standpoint could wait and would have to be repeated anyway to the rest of the staff. So I just led Fred talk, and as he shared stories from the lives of others, he recounted his own testimony. . . .
Back in 1932, when Fred was around twelve years old, he attended a Bible study with five other boys (one of which was Uta Gelo's brother Wendell, whom some of you may recall). Their teacher was Fred's aunt, Ethel Bretten. Aunt Ethel taught Fred and his friends this verse from the book of Deuteronomy:
Only take care, and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things that your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. Make them known to your children and to your children's children.
- Deuteronomy 4:9
With tears in her eyes, Ethel Bretten told this group of boys that as they got older and made their way out into the world, temptations would beset them. She prayed that they wouldn't go astray. "But if you do," said Ethel, "remember this verse. Come back to the Lord and serve Him. Teach these things to your children and to their children."
As Fred got older, he did drift from the Lord. But he remembered this verse that his aunt had impressed upon his heart with her urgent words, her tears and her prayers - and Fred came back to the Lord. Fred has served his Savior faithfully now for more than half a century. Not only that, but he has taught God's Word to his four children and his many grandchildren. Fred's been doin' Deuteronomy! Our brother has been a living demonstration of this verse.
At the end of our session, it was my joy to give Fred a picture that I've had in my possession for about eight years now. It's a picture of Fred, myself, and three other dear life-long friends of Fred, one of which is now with the Lord (Aiken Gelo). As Fred looks forward to celebrating his 88th birthday next month, I am already celebrating a life lived to the glory of God. It spurs me on in my own Christian walk and motivates me to pray, "O Lord, find me faithful! Help me to finish well!"
By the way, Deuteronomy 4:9 became Fred's life verse. Not a bad choice. At the end of our meeting, I highlighted that verse in my Bible. I have a feeling I'll be turning to it time and time again.