Spiritual Heritage

It's been a little crazy around here! Once I returned from my Kansas trip, I went into full recovery mode from an ear/sinus infection (read, sleeping a LOT) and packing and organizing and arranging moving companies and trucks, etc. On the flip, we've moved 95% of our stuff to the new place and just have to clean and sort through the leftovers at the old place. It's amazing how much stuff can pile up after 2 years and rotating roommates! I did want to blog about my trip, so here's the first of my musings from the week.

My love for scrapbooking is rooted in a deep belief that everyone has a story to tell. The Greatest Story is, of course, in the Bible, and all stories follow the same path. I believe it's of upmost importance to share your story, especially when it involves generations and families and God. As I was putting together my Grandfather's book, I was reading stories and hearing stories and imagining in my mind what it must have been like to show up in Decatur County, Kansas in 1886 with 8 kids in tow and start a farm from the dust under your feet. What is was like to found and charter the first Lutheran church in the county, to barely make it by each year, and transform the landscape physically and spiritually.

The true pioneers in my life are my ancestors; what they have done has impacted my life immeasurably more than I know.

My great-great-grandfather Henry May chartered the first Lutheran church in the county. Most of his children became or married farmers, all while keeping within the church. When you read about each of his children in the family history, it lists their birth date, where they were born, their baptism date, when they were married, kids, and date of death. Baptism was such an important part of their life it was included in their biography! My great-grandpa Ernest May was of such Low German heritage that he venemently opposed the construction of kneelers in the new church; he hadn't taken the Lord's Supper for 50 years kneeling and didn't need to start now. :) My grandfather Martin May is a rock of faith; he has seen more tragedy and always taken it in stride. In visiting with him after the fire destroyed much of his own father's farmstead that he built with his hands, he doesn't complain or mope. He wonders what he should do next. How do I move on?

Out of the 7 grandchildren, 2 are pastors. All these pieces put together made me realize how BLESSED I am to have such a rich spiritual heritage. Bill Johnson speaks a lot about handing down the spiritual territory from one generation to another; I'd like to think my ancestors have done this extremely well. Because of their faithfulness and trust in God, I was raised in a home where God's name was spoken and we prayed. We weren't perfect, but we were surrounded by a believing family and had an innate genetic makeup that included some kind of resiliency and trust in Him. For that, I am forever grateful.

New Life Amongst the Ashes

For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. (Jeremiah 29:11 ESV)

Bagpipes and Jameson Irish Whiskey

It wasn't shortly after I arrived Wednesday evening that we were informed my sister-in-law's father had passed away after a long bout with stage 4 throat cancer. The last few days have been a roller coaster - getting to spend time with family and also grieving and supporting my wonderful in laws.

Today was the funeral, Irish Catholic mass style. I'm a very emotional person and I tend to respond fairly strongly to the emotions I sense around me, so when the bagpiper started Amazing Grace, my heart melted. Every story, every picture helped me understand even more just who this man was and will be remembered for.

After the funeral lunch, we were invited over to the house. I don't think I've ever seen so much food in my life! There was at least 50 people there; mostly family, some friends. After a few hours, there was a gathering out back to toast. Someone handed me a red Solo cup with none other than a shot of Jameson's Irish Whiskey. I stood and listened to the things and acts of kindness this man had brought to so many lives. We raised our glasses, drank, and then my mouth and throat were on fire. I forgot what that felt like!

At the end of the day, I'm in awe of the families that we have. We don't choose them, but God was so wise when He chose them for us. Whether or not we like them, they're family. And that means something, no matter what happens.

Ashes

I'd like to say over the past several weeks I've been uber-productive, had scores of job interviews, and been so happy and agreeable the whole time. Instead, I've been semi-productive, had one job interview, and been happy about 50% of the time. I'm learning that being unemployed is exciting only for the time it takes to fully relax and recover. Then, you start getting antsy and worried you're going to be purpose-less for the rest of your life. Thankfully, I have friends and a Father who speak truth into my life constantly. :)

Tomorrow I set off on what will probably be a very emotional and exciting trip to Kansas. I'll spend a few days in Lawrence, a few days with my maternal grandmother, and then a week out on my paternal grandparent's farm. My main purpose in visiting the farm is to create a scrapbook of my grandfather's childhood and heritage. You know, all those old, crumbling pictures that they bring out every Christmas and thumb through but forget who everyone is? Well, I cringe at those pictures and dream of how much better they can be preserved and archived for their succeeding generations. I made a scrapbook for my grandmother a few years back, and this year, my grandparents are celebrating their 65th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY so I offered to complete the set and make my grandpa one, too.

Y'all, can I tell you about my grandparents?

They were married on April 7, 1947. As you can see in the picture above, my grandpa's flower was pinned upside down. The story is that he didn't know otherwise, someone just told him that was correct. We have plenty of laughs about it now! My grandmother grew up in a small town a few miles from Oberlin, KS and met my grandfather in school. After they were married, they settled in his parent's farmhouse and continued the business. In fact, my grandfather was BORN on the property they still live on. It's like stepping into a different world when I go to the farm.

A few weeks ago, about 70% of their farm was burned in a fire that started when an overheated car pulled off the dirt road into a ditch, then caught the dry grass on fire near their property. One of the many outbuildings burned, this once magnificent barn was reduced to steel and ash.

(The picture above is looking west, the picture below is an aerial shot looking south.)

So, needless to say, this trip to the farm will be different. I'll be attempting to capture the life and story of my grandfather, his war stories, turning points, and spiritual wisdom, preserving the memories he has left for me and my grandchildren. And I'll attempt to grieve and cope with the loss of such a meaningful place in my life - where I've skipped over hale bales as a child, drove around on a four-wheeler as a teenager, and as I got older, learned to appreciate the antiquity and tradition my grandparent's lives exemplified. I'm deeply traditional and love stories, and I'm excited about what I'm going to experience and remember, but also know it will be hard at times to face the reality of aging grandparents and an ashen farmstead. All in all, though, isn't that what we become? Dust to dust, ashes to ashes? I hope my life can be recorded and remembered as such:

¹⁹ “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. ²⁰ But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. ²¹ For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." -Matthew 6:19-21