An Anniversary and Bosc Pears

What is an anniversary but a way to keep the days and years from running together? Like a landmark along the unremarkable stretch of I94, an anniversary catches our attention, disrupts the routine, and makes the journey more interesting.

Last Sunday, the congregation I serve completely surprised me by recognizing the 15th anniversary of my installation! I am still in awe of their sneakiness! And grateful for their love in Christ. Together, we pulled off the interstate and noticed the landmark.

Today marks a different kind of anniversary, another sacred landmark on the journey. One year ago, my dear friend Terry who had been my boss at the Luther Seminary Bookstore long ago, died of lung cancer. I am telling you this story because he was my cheerleader, the very first person to subscribe to this blog. I am telling you this story because people who shape your life become landmarks on the road.

I could tell you all about my friend who was the perfect image of health. My friend, who introduced me to bosc pears, one of his favorite snacks. He emailed me every single week to encourage his pastor friend and ended each email with a benediction he’d heard at worship that week at his beloved congregation.

Terry grew up and lived in Eau Claire until he took the bus to Connecticut and then walked to Yale University caring a single suitcase. He would never let you in on the secret that he was brilliant. During his internship as he studied to become an ordained pastor, he heard a new calling. He was called not to be a minister of Word and Sacrament, but to be a minister of the Word. He sold books, but that’s not quite right. He put words into the hands of people hungry for the Word.

I could tell you all about my friend, but instead I will tell you that anniversaries are an invitation to give thanks for the people who enrich the journey. Today, I am so grateful for my friend, as I live now in the presence of his absence. And I am awakened again to the fragility and wonder of this life, and the surprises along the way.

To mark this anniversary, I will snack on a bosc pear while you are encouraged to download a free e-book edition of my book, Spiritual Longing in a Woman’s World. If you already downloaded it, you may not be able to download it again, so tell a friend! It is free all day long today only. If you have read it, please share an honest review on Amazon or Goodreads.

Photo by Fernanda Martinez on Unsplash