Originally written back and posted in 2013:
One of the things before I started posting these blogs was writing my thoughts in a journal. I have been then publishing them not in the same order as I wrote them so today's blog will contain references to stuff that I have yet to post about (politics). As an aside, I know people from other countries have read some of my blogs - are people in your countries as harshly divided about politics to the point of really despising each other because they don't share the same viewpoint? It seems that way here in the US, I would love to hear from other countries about this sometime. Maybe one day I will write some thoughts on politics, but until then here's today's scheduled blog:
I am writing this journal the day after I wrote 10 pages as to my opinions on American politics back in 2012. While I felt better about getting my thoughts down on paper, I felt a little sad and depressed. I might put it online maybe to encourage debate, but I will wait to the day I feel comfortable with it. I tend not to agree politically with a lot of my friends let's just say. So let me talk about something that makes me smile often.
Let me tell you about my Uncle Reiny. He was born in 1927. He was the youngest of five children to a family that immigrated here from Germany. He never married, nor did he have children - but he was a very important member of our family. I remember how much loved his German heritage, his German Shepherd Koenig, and his vast collection of nutcrackers and postage stamps. He always hosted the family get-togethers each Fourth of July. He truly loved his country.
He loved the Lord even more. He was heavily involved in volunteering for his local church, St. Peter's. If there was a fundraiser, a pancake breakfast, or a roast beef dinner - you could find him there helping out. He called numbers for bingo, which placed him into the wrath of several senior citizens nightly. "you call too slow, you call too fast, you keep calling the same numbers" were just a few things yelled at him. I remember him chuckling often that no matter what he did on bingo nights, he wasn't going to please everybody.
As I got older and learned more about his life, I found out how he helped take care of others. When his mother passed away, he moved in with his father to help take care of him until my great-grandfather's death. When his brother-in-law passed away, he moved in with his sister and helped out much the same way. I also heard how he helped out others (friends and family) financially when needed. I don't Reiny ever sharing these stories with me, but rather others told off his kindness and generosity.
He loved the latest technologies. TV's, DVD players, computers - every upgrade he was like a child in a candy store. He may not have understood how they completely worked, but he was always amazed. I'm sure today he would be playing with his IPhone and Ipod (probably listening to polka music). It reminds me of the time that he got a new computer and was having problems with it. He called me and my brother-in-law to help him fix it. We saw everything was plugged in and everything seemed right, but the mouse wasn't responding. We looked at the mouse and noticed that Styrofoam was covering the mouse ball. Reiny's remark was "Can you guys stick around a while longer, so when you get home people will think it was a larger problem?" That statement makes me chuckle.
We talked faith a few times when I visited. Nothing too deep, usually the differences between being a Catholic and a Lutheran. He was one of the few family members I would go out of my way to visit. As such, those visits I treasure immensely.
On July 4th 2001, Reiny made the announcement that he no longer would be doing the family get-togethers. Something about his knees and that he was getting older. The reality was found within the month, that he had terminal cancer. He passed away near the end of August. I am fairly certain, he was aware then and wanted no one to worry about him. I never talked to him again after that Fourth of July, but I heard he told my mom "Chris says I'm his favorite relative because I never get mad at anyone". I don't think anything I could have said to him in his final weeks of life could have been better.
At his funeral, the Father gave the eulogy (after crying a little) and used the phrase "real good". It was always what Reiny said instead of thank you. You'd offer him a ride, he'd say "real good". That's how he lived his life. He didn't preach, he evangelized by the way he lived his life. He was real and his walk in the Lord was done in real tangible ways. He was a servant to others, and strived to do good. Did he fall short and sin at times? Of course he did, we all do. I don't ever remember him complaining until the very end when the cancer pain was so intense. I'll give him a pass on that one since I complain on far smaller things.
As a Christian, we need to strive to be real. We can't pretend everything is perfect. We still are humans that have struggles, sins, dreams, hopes, and desires, The Lord uses us as real and flawed as we are. He speaks into all our struggles, fears, dreams, and hopes. Also, I feel we need to be real in how we walk with the Lord. It's one thing to read the word, pray, fast, and worship - but if we are not expressing it in real ways to the world - what does it mean? Not all of us are called to be preachers and writers, but we all play an important role. I learned from my uncle that it's not your glory you should pursue - you do what is good because the Lord leads you in that direction. We all serve the Lord and serve each other and my uncle personified that in my life. Maybe Reiny wasn't a preacher - but he sure evangelized to me.
I am sad sometimes that he is gone and that my wife never got to meet him. She would have really loved him as they are both fans of the Fourth of July. He would have loved her too I am sure. But, she knows about him through me. I know I will see him again when we meet in Heaven and my wife will get to meet him face to face. I'm fairly certain she will like him.
I have a picture of me and him from that fateful July 4th in 2001 sitting on my bookcase. The both of us weary goofy Uncle Sam hats and big grins on our faces. It never fails to make me smile.
15 years later - I still miss him. Goes to show how much an impact we can make on people's lives.
One of the things before I started posting these blogs was writing my thoughts in a journal. I have been then publishing them not in the same order as I wrote them so today's blog will contain references to stuff that I have yet to post about (politics). As an aside, I know people from other countries have read some of my blogs - are people in your countries as harshly divided about politics to the point of really despising each other because they don't share the same viewpoint? It seems that way here in the US, I would love to hear from other countries about this sometime. Maybe one day I will write some thoughts on politics, but until then here's today's scheduled blog:
I am writing this journal the day after I wrote 10 pages as to my opinions on American politics back in 2012. While I felt better about getting my thoughts down on paper, I felt a little sad and depressed. I might put it online maybe to encourage debate, but I will wait to the day I feel comfortable with it. I tend not to agree politically with a lot of my friends let's just say. So let me talk about something that makes me smile often.
Let me tell you about my Uncle Reiny. He was born in 1927. He was the youngest of five children to a family that immigrated here from Germany. He never married, nor did he have children - but he was a very important member of our family. I remember how much loved his German heritage, his German Shepherd Koenig, and his vast collection of nutcrackers and postage stamps. He always hosted the family get-togethers each Fourth of July. He truly loved his country.
He loved the Lord even more. He was heavily involved in volunteering for his local church, St. Peter's. If there was a fundraiser, a pancake breakfast, or a roast beef dinner - you could find him there helping out. He called numbers for bingo, which placed him into the wrath of several senior citizens nightly. "you call too slow, you call too fast, you keep calling the same numbers" were just a few things yelled at him. I remember him chuckling often that no matter what he did on bingo nights, he wasn't going to please everybody.
As I got older and learned more about his life, I found out how he helped take care of others. When his mother passed away, he moved in with his father to help take care of him until my great-grandfather's death. When his brother-in-law passed away, he moved in with his sister and helped out much the same way. I also heard how he helped out others (friends and family) financially when needed. I don't Reiny ever sharing these stories with me, but rather others told off his kindness and generosity.
He loved the latest technologies. TV's, DVD players, computers - every upgrade he was like a child in a candy store. He may not have understood how they completely worked, but he was always amazed. I'm sure today he would be playing with his IPhone and Ipod (probably listening to polka music). It reminds me of the time that he got a new computer and was having problems with it. He called me and my brother-in-law to help him fix it. We saw everything was plugged in and everything seemed right, but the mouse wasn't responding. We looked at the mouse and noticed that Styrofoam was covering the mouse ball. Reiny's remark was "Can you guys stick around a while longer, so when you get home people will think it was a larger problem?" That statement makes me chuckle.
We talked faith a few times when I visited. Nothing too deep, usually the differences between being a Catholic and a Lutheran. He was one of the few family members I would go out of my way to visit. As such, those visits I treasure immensely.
On July 4th 2001, Reiny made the announcement that he no longer would be doing the family get-togethers. Something about his knees and that he was getting older. The reality was found within the month, that he had terminal cancer. He passed away near the end of August. I am fairly certain, he was aware then and wanted no one to worry about him. I never talked to him again after that Fourth of July, but I heard he told my mom "Chris says I'm his favorite relative because I never get mad at anyone". I don't think anything I could have said to him in his final weeks of life could have been better.
At his funeral, the Father gave the eulogy (after crying a little) and used the phrase "real good". It was always what Reiny said instead of thank you. You'd offer him a ride, he'd say "real good". That's how he lived his life. He didn't preach, he evangelized by the way he lived his life. He was real and his walk in the Lord was done in real tangible ways. He was a servant to others, and strived to do good. Did he fall short and sin at times? Of course he did, we all do. I don't ever remember him complaining until the very end when the cancer pain was so intense. I'll give him a pass on that one since I complain on far smaller things.
As a Christian, we need to strive to be real. We can't pretend everything is perfect. We still are humans that have struggles, sins, dreams, hopes, and desires, The Lord uses us as real and flawed as we are. He speaks into all our struggles, fears, dreams, and hopes. Also, I feel we need to be real in how we walk with the Lord. It's one thing to read the word, pray, fast, and worship - but if we are not expressing it in real ways to the world - what does it mean? Not all of us are called to be preachers and writers, but we all play an important role. I learned from my uncle that it's not your glory you should pursue - you do what is good because the Lord leads you in that direction. We all serve the Lord and serve each other and my uncle personified that in my life. Maybe Reiny wasn't a preacher - but he sure evangelized to me.
I am sad sometimes that he is gone and that my wife never got to meet him. She would have really loved him as they are both fans of the Fourth of July. He would have loved her too I am sure. But, she knows about him through me. I know I will see him again when we meet in Heaven and my wife will get to meet him face to face. I'm fairly certain she will like him.
I have a picture of me and him from that fateful July 4th in 2001 sitting on my bookcase. The both of us weary goofy Uncle Sam hats and big grins on our faces. It never fails to make me smile.
15 years later - I still miss him. Goes to show how much an impact we can make on people's lives.
Comments
Post a Comment