I brought back a new nickname from my 3rd Canadian fishing trip with the famous (or is it infamous) Luchterhand fishing crew. We spent June 13 to June 20 at Open Bay Lodge on Lac De Mille Lacs, Upsala, Ontario. And we caught walleye! Lots of walleye! Big walleye. The first one I caught was 26 inches. That was the biggest I ever caught, and the biggest in camp for most of the week, even though Dick caught a 23 1/2 inch monster that might have weighed more. He fought it for over 10 minutes!
Then came Thursday and Walleye Lyle caught a 26 inch walleye. Shortly thereafter Mikie caught a 26 incher. So, on Friday, the impossible cry could be heard yet again, "I need smaller fish!" And the first one I caught? 19 inches. Too big, throw him back. The second one I caught? 18 1/2 inches. Too big, throw him back. The third? 18! YES! Into the live well he goes. I caught more after that. 17 7/8. 17 1/2, and 15 1/2. Splush. Splash. Kerplunk. I could only keep 4, and I was limited out. But my sophomore slump was past. And my fishing mates gave me a new moniker. Walleye Glenn. How kind. To the leaster in the group, the newbie. Blessed to join fellows who have been fishing together for some 30 years.
They even let me play sheepshead and didn't complain too much when I misplayed a trick. How kind.
The night before we left for Canada, Dick and Dorine opened their home and gave me a spare bedroom in which to sleep. How kind. When we got back from Canada, none of the pastors needed to preach the next morning, so I joined the group at the Luchterhand palace where we enjoyed salads that Jean had made for us. And we played sheepshead. By the time we finished, I was up over 20 chips. Then I went back to Dick and Dorine's house before my 10:30 pm curfew. I spent another night as their guest, treated like royalty. How kind.
As I settled into a busy week catching up on ministry at Trinity and carrying out my duties as Trustee of my mother-in-law's estate, I wondered when I would have time to cook. But no worries. Some folks at Trinity have been making freezer meals for me to take home. Thaw them out, and microwave or put in the oven. Incredible. How kind.
I guest preached for the Northwoods Tri-Parish of Mercer, Hurley, and Bruce Crossing on the 5th of July. It's a lot of driving, but at each congregation, the members visited with me and thanked me again and again for coming. At Bruce Crossing, after worship, they had fellowship time in the church basement with snacks and beverages. They sent some extra snacks home with me. How kind.
I got back home in the evening, and shortly thereafter my baby brudder, Larry, and his wife Martha came for several days of vacation. It's been a few years since they've been up here, so we visited till late in the evening. Monday morning was spent at the St. Germain flea market. The afternoon was spent back at my place where I gave them the grand tour of my "estate," and Larry helped me with a few chores. Tuesday was more visiting and joking, and Larry helped me with more chores. Before they took me out for supper, Larry asked, "Did we get everything done you wanted?" And they were supposed to be on vacation! How kind.
Over the last few years, since I've been "retired," I can't begin to count the acts of kindness from neighbors, family, and friends. But, our Lord has. You see on the Judgment Day, when the Lord separates the sheep from the goats, believers from unbelievers, he will point to simple acts of kindness as proof of Christ-centered faith. Jesus explains, "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was lacking clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The King will answer them, ‘Amen I tell you: Just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’" (Matthew 25:34-40)
Being kind to "one of the least of these." Newspapers won't report this. Television or radio won't send reporters to get the scoop on this. Our busy, crazy, dog-eat-dog world might even think Christians are stupid foe doing this, but little acts of kindness mean something to the Lord who created our Universe, the Lord who has such a deep love for us he sent his Son to rescue us from our sins!
It's no wonder our Lord guided Paul to write, "Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, quarreling, and slander, along with every kind of malice. Instead, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
Then came Thursday and Walleye Lyle caught a 26 inch walleye. Shortly thereafter Mikie caught a 26 incher. So, on Friday, the impossible cry could be heard yet again, "I need smaller fish!" And the first one I caught? 19 inches. Too big, throw him back. The second one I caught? 18 1/2 inches. Too big, throw him back. The third? 18! YES! Into the live well he goes. I caught more after that. 17 7/8. 17 1/2, and 15 1/2. Splush. Splash. Kerplunk. I could only keep 4, and I was limited out. But my sophomore slump was past. And my fishing mates gave me a new moniker. Walleye Glenn. How kind. To the leaster in the group, the newbie. Blessed to join fellows who have been fishing together for some 30 years.
They even let me play sheepshead and didn't complain too much when I misplayed a trick. How kind.
The night before we left for Canada, Dick and Dorine opened their home and gave me a spare bedroom in which to sleep. How kind. When we got back from Canada, none of the pastors needed to preach the next morning, so I joined the group at the Luchterhand palace where we enjoyed salads that Jean had made for us. And we played sheepshead. By the time we finished, I was up over 20 chips. Then I went back to Dick and Dorine's house before my 10:30 pm curfew. I spent another night as their guest, treated like royalty. How kind.
As I settled into a busy week catching up on ministry at Trinity and carrying out my duties as Trustee of my mother-in-law's estate, I wondered when I would have time to cook. But no worries. Some folks at Trinity have been making freezer meals for me to take home. Thaw them out, and microwave or put in the oven. Incredible. How kind.
I guest preached for the Northwoods Tri-Parish of Mercer, Hurley, and Bruce Crossing on the 5th of July. It's a lot of driving, but at each congregation, the members visited with me and thanked me again and again for coming. At Bruce Crossing, after worship, they had fellowship time in the church basement with snacks and beverages. They sent some extra snacks home with me. How kind.
I got back home in the evening, and shortly thereafter my baby brudder, Larry, and his wife Martha came for several days of vacation. It's been a few years since they've been up here, so we visited till late in the evening. Monday morning was spent at the St. Germain flea market. The afternoon was spent back at my place where I gave them the grand tour of my "estate," and Larry helped me with a few chores. Tuesday was more visiting and joking, and Larry helped me with more chores. Before they took me out for supper, Larry asked, "Did we get everything done you wanted?" And they were supposed to be on vacation! How kind.
Over the last few years, since I've been "retired," I can't begin to count the acts of kindness from neighbors, family, and friends. But, our Lord has. You see on the Judgment Day, when the Lord separates the sheep from the goats, believers from unbelievers, he will point to simple acts of kindness as proof of Christ-centered faith. Jesus explains, "Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink. I was a stranger and you welcomed me. I was lacking clothes and you clothed me. I was sick and you took care of me. I was in prison and you visited me.’ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or lacking clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ “The King will answer them, ‘Amen I tell you: Just as you did it for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did it for me.’" (Matthew 25:34-40)
Being kind to "one of the least of these." Newspapers won't report this. Television or radio won't send reporters to get the scoop on this. Our busy, crazy, dog-eat-dog world might even think Christians are stupid foe doing this, but little acts of kindness mean something to the Lord who created our Universe, the Lord who has such a deep love for us he sent his Son to rescue us from our sins!
It's no wonder our Lord guided Paul to write, "Get rid of every kind of bitterness, rage, anger, quarreling, and slander, along with every kind of malice. Instead, be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ has forgiven us." (Ephesians 4:31-32)
Privileged to Serve,
Rev. Glenn Schwanke
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