I have never been accused of wearing rose-colored glasses, despite having taken, fairly recently, a class in the psychology of positivity. I remember an occasion when our sons called me a "spin doctor," which they told me was kind of a compliment, and kind of not. Now, I have thought that I have been faithful to Martin Luther's teaching on "calling a thing what it is," despite the knowledge that it does not win you friends or help you influence people--especially those whose opinion counts more than yours. Au contraire!
From the time I was at least 11 years old, when we left Madagascar to live in the United States, I have been reminded that you "cannot go home, again." That is a black and white truth, not subject to challenge of any kind. What once was, is no longer.
So, this summer of 2017, when I returned to my old stomping grounds and found myself sharing space and time with folks who used to be a part of my life, I was, at first, uncomfortable. Would we able to pick up where we left off? Would the changes in us that have happened over time make relating to one another difficult? Would we disappoint one another, after all this time apart?
This August, I spent a Sunday afternoon with my first roomie right after college, Karen, who now lives in Ohio. We had not seen one another since the early 1980's, and we only had in the last couple of years become friends on Facebook. We talked over things we remembered from our year living in and near St. Anthony Park, St. Paul, MN. We even visited some of our old haunts there. It amazed me to discover that she was still the kind and caring person that I remembered, with the kind of practical wisdom I have come to expect from social workers. She also helped me understand the virtues of Texas Hold-Em and the Mystical Tradition as it is experienced in our time. Thank you, Karen!
Arland and I also attended, in August, the wedding of a LCM student leader from my years as campus pastor at the Christus House in Morris, MN. The wedding was held not far from Morris, at a church in Alexandria, MN, and the reception took place in Glenwood, close by. I saw there not only the exceptional young woman I had known in Morris, MN, and her new husband. I also saw four other students who had graced the Christus House during my tenure there, along with a spouse and children. What a blessing it was to behold them there, and to hear them speak, during those few hours together!
Thank you, Christine and Rafay. Thank you, Michael and Elizabeth. Thank you, Michelle and sweet daughters, and dear Rebecca, too.
Between the wedding and the dinner, we called another friend to see if she and her husband could join us for coffee at Perkins, in Alexandria. Despite her busy day, Nola drove over to join us. (John was still at a funeral not far away.) Nola filled us in on her family news. I listened to her speak and watched her animated face. Was it really almost ten years ago that she and John and their entire congregation took us in and helped us heal from our annus horribilis?
Thank you, Nola and John. And Rachel, too, and the entire congregation of Trinity.
And, finally, a dinner not far from St. Peter, MN, with cousins and the man we always have called UNCLE LEONARD . This photo shows me hugging Uncle Leonard, the husband of my second cousin, Agnes, and the father of my cousins: Gloria, Mark, and Carolyn. He, also our doctor, helped us stay "in the pink" while we were growing up in Madagascar. He made me believe, when he examined my throat during a bout of illness on the Red Island, that God had made me a gifted singer, and my throat revealed the evidence. I have never stopped singing, since!
Thank you, Uncle Leonard, Aunt Agnes, and Carolyn and Mark and Gloria Jean!