It was a week ago Monday. And it was the bestest, most fabulous day—because everything was going so smoothly, precisely according to my plans. During the day I had worked ahead on sermons through the end of the year. Then I spent extra time reviewing my sermon, the readings, the hymns and the liturgy for the Monday night worship service. I even unpacked a few more boxes of books that were aging in my garage from my retirement move, and I arranged the books neatly on the shelves in my home office.
Next I headed over to Trinity early for the worship. There I caught up on some email before worship, and enjoyed the privilege of leading the evening worship service. Right after worship, as I had planned with persnickety precision earlier, I stopped at Kwik Trip, bought gas and ran inside to pick up my haute cuisine supper: a Hot Spot Quarter Pound Bacon Cheeseburger.
I jumped back into the car and headed home. As I drove, I was serenaded by Christmas music on 95.9, the Island. The music was punctuated by life-changing commentary offered by radio host and entertainer, John Tesh. And John had just splashed a rainbow of delights on the horizon of my life when he told me that research had revealed the happiest age-decade in the life of an average US citizen. I waited with bated breath for the answer. Surely your 20s! Or maybe your 30s? But NO! It’s your 70’s! My 70s? I felt as if heaven opened before my eyes, because I will step into my 70’s, our Lord willing, next year! I reveled in the moment. Could this day get any better?
Just then, precisely then, exactly then. . .DEER!!#?! THUD! And I'm pulling off to the side of Highway 70, just east of St. Germain, and turning on my car’s 4-way flashers on the worstest, most bummerish, messed up day of my life. As I left the car to check on the deer and damage, it’s as if the blackness of the night had instantly deepened and the chill of the wind worsened. Once I made sure the small doe was off the road (I was in no mood to take it), the highway was clear of debris, and my car was drivable, I headed home—with my driver-side headlight askew, shining high up into the trees across the road.
Since my tech skills are somewhat lacking, I didn’t attempt the easy-peasy, super-convenient online reporting with insurance and the Wisconsin DOT on my smartphone. I did that back home, on my computer. It was so easy-peasy, super convenient that it took me 2 ½ hours.
Then, at long last, I ate my rock-hard, ice-cold Hot Spot Quarter Pound Bacon Cheeseburger. I decided to waft it down with a German beverage, and thus put an exclamation point on the worstest, most bummerish, messed-up, trashed, lousy day of my life.
Well, not quite. Even though for a few moments, it felt that way. But then I started to reflect on my just-shy-of-three-score years-and-ten, and I realized how minor this car/deer close-encounter was. Through the decades of my life, my gracious Father has deemed it wise for me to experience much more serious setbacks, and every time it’s because he knew precisely how large a spoon-full of discipline I needed in my life in order to keep me bound closely to him in saving faith.
So I reached for my Bible and turned to Paul’s words. “Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
Then I checked Hebrews 12. “Have you also forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard the Lord’s discipline lightly, and do not become weary of his correction. For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves, and he corrects every son he accepts. Endure suffering as discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. Is there a son whose father does not discipline him?” (Hebrews 12:5-7)
And I wondered, “What is the Lord trying to teach me through this? Maybe to be less focused on unboxing, organizing, building, fixing, and getting everything on my “Schwanke estate” just the way I want it, so that I can fully enjoy my Golden Years of retirement?” In that moment, Jesus’ story about the rich farmer popped into my mind, and the farmer’s empty boast. “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry.”’ (Luke 12:19)
Thud! The words hit hard into the depths of my soul. And I realized that a deer, and a thud, had worked together for my good. Since I remain a child of God, bought and paid for in the blood of Christ, it was still the bestest, most fabulous day ever.
Because everything was going according to His plans.
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
Next I headed over to Trinity early for the worship. There I caught up on some email before worship, and enjoyed the privilege of leading the evening worship service. Right after worship, as I had planned with persnickety precision earlier, I stopped at Kwik Trip, bought gas and ran inside to pick up my haute cuisine supper: a Hot Spot Quarter Pound Bacon Cheeseburger.
I jumped back into the car and headed home. As I drove, I was serenaded by Christmas music on 95.9, the Island. The music was punctuated by life-changing commentary offered by radio host and entertainer, John Tesh. And John had just splashed a rainbow of delights on the horizon of my life when he told me that research had revealed the happiest age-decade in the life of an average US citizen. I waited with bated breath for the answer. Surely your 20s! Or maybe your 30s? But NO! It’s your 70’s! My 70s? I felt as if heaven opened before my eyes, because I will step into my 70’s, our Lord willing, next year! I reveled in the moment. Could this day get any better?
Just then, precisely then, exactly then. . .DEER!!#?! THUD! And I'm pulling off to the side of Highway 70, just east of St. Germain, and turning on my car’s 4-way flashers on the worstest, most bummerish, messed up day of my life. As I left the car to check on the deer and damage, it’s as if the blackness of the night had instantly deepened and the chill of the wind worsened. Once I made sure the small doe was off the road (I was in no mood to take it), the highway was clear of debris, and my car was drivable, I headed home—with my driver-side headlight askew, shining high up into the trees across the road.
Since my tech skills are somewhat lacking, I didn’t attempt the easy-peasy, super-convenient online reporting with insurance and the Wisconsin DOT on my smartphone. I did that back home, on my computer. It was so easy-peasy, super convenient that it took me 2 ½ hours.
Then, at long last, I ate my rock-hard, ice-cold Hot Spot Quarter Pound Bacon Cheeseburger. I decided to waft it down with a German beverage, and thus put an exclamation point on the worstest, most bummerish, messed-up, trashed, lousy day of my life.
Well, not quite. Even though for a few moments, it felt that way. But then I started to reflect on my just-shy-of-three-score years-and-ten, and I realized how minor this car/deer close-encounter was. Through the decades of my life, my gracious Father has deemed it wise for me to experience much more serious setbacks, and every time it’s because he knew precisely how large a spoon-full of discipline I needed in my life in order to keep me bound closely to him in saving faith.
So I reached for my Bible and turned to Paul’s words. “Not only this, but we also rejoice confidently in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces patient endurance, and patient endurance produces tested character, and tested character produces hope.” (Romans 5:3-4)
Then I checked Hebrews 12. “Have you also forgotten the encouragement that addresses you as sons? My son, do not regard the Lord’s discipline lightly, and do not become weary of his correction. For the Lord disciplines the one whom he loves, and he corrects every son he accepts. Endure suffering as discipline. God is dealing with you as sons. Is there a son whose father does not discipline him?” (Hebrews 12:5-7)
And I wondered, “What is the Lord trying to teach me through this? Maybe to be less focused on unboxing, organizing, building, fixing, and getting everything on my “Schwanke estate” just the way I want it, so that I can fully enjoy my Golden Years of retirement?” In that moment, Jesus’ story about the rich farmer popped into my mind, and the farmer’s empty boast. “Soul, you have many goods stored up for many years. Take it easy. Eat, drink, and be merry.”’ (Luke 12:19)
Thud! The words hit hard into the depths of my soul. And I realized that a deer, and a thud, had worked together for my good. Since I remain a child of God, bought and paid for in the blood of Christ, it was still the bestest, most fabulous day ever.
Because everything was going according to His plans.
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
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