February 5, 2024

Okay, I'm a sentimental guy.  Yes, I cried when Old Yeller died.  I cried last month when I saw Les Miserables in Lincoln.   And, Saturday night, I cried at my son's music performance.

I realized my kids are on to me when both a son and daughter said to mom beforehand, "oh, dad's gonna cry."  Seems they know that I can get all misty.   Saturday, Gretna's show choir performed and,   before you ask, I have mixed emotions on the whole idea of "show choir."  I'm not overly thrilled with how some choirs dress. . .  the girls sometimes clad in not enough material.  The music selections can be hit or miss.  And, dancing is certainly at least questionable.  

All of that aside, I still cried when I watched Gretna's performance (twice that day.... twice I watched and twice I cried).   The storyline went like this:  A song-writer sits down at a piano to compose a song celebrating his 59 years of marriage.   The story takes you from their first meeting, through their wedding and life together, and, finally, to a hospital bed where she dies.  In the hospital bed, there is a prayer by the man knowing he does not have the strength to save her.   Her death is followed within 36-hours by the husband as he finishes his song.  Oh, and in my defense, you could hear sniffles all around the auditorium.  

What was it?  Why the tears?  Why the emotion?  Why was there  power in the story?  Because a good story, a powerful story always has a spiritual dimension and draws on truths that are coded into the very image of mankind.  It is not just love or a love-story that generates emotion.  It is that every person watching connects because they are either a lost love and long to have a deep love or, in the case of believers, we are a found love and grasp the profoundness of it.  Those who follow Christ can actually relate in both ways.  

Yes, I watched a husband and wife love story . . .  and that is touching.  But, the audience was also able to connect in a spiritual way because God designed marriage, above all else, to picture His sacrifice for a bride.   Husbands are to sacrifice, give themself up for their wife, just as Christ gave Himself up for us.  

As spiritual people, we can be touched deeply without being able to explain why.  That dimension is always present and there are some God-designed stories that cross over impacting our minds and spirits.   Saturday night was surely one of those.  Kudos to a few of our kids that performed (Cameron B and Elijah W).  

A final thought:  I plan on writing a letter to the director at Gretna High.  She is a young gal and I want to encourage her for holding a line on costume selection (conservative) and for her telling a timeless story rather than the more "culturally relevant" story lines.  My hope is she continues to hold those lines.   May that be a lesson for us all:  We seem to naturally and quickly critique those who jump on the cultural bandwagon.   May we not fail to encourage the few who do hold lines and stand strong for right thinking.    

Oh, and for those keeping score... Gretna won first place!   

• Annual Meeting Results &  Notes

Joe Liberator and Linda Woestrel have been selected to serve on the 2024 Financial Review Team.  They will be joined by a third to be selected by the elders in March.   The 2024 budget was approved.  The results of the elder and assistant treasurer votes will be announced later this week.  Be in prayer for the men who allowed their name to stand.     We had a great meeting with a good energy and spirit.