In the last 6 months I have lost two childhood heroes. I
call them heroes not because they saved people’s lives while wearing caps and
funny face paint, but rather because they helped better my life.
Piano Wonderwoman: Mrs. Sanders was my piano teacher. She
was an older lady who had a very fat cat. Piano lessons were never my thing but
going to Mrs. Sanders was one of my favorite parts of the week. She listened to
everything I had to say, which sometimes took 20 of the 30 minutes of my
lesson. (Whoops.) She laughed at my jokes and family tales but also gave the
best advice. Every Tuesday for years I spent my afternoons sitting on her piano
bench chatting and occasionally playing. When she passed away last summer I
felt like part of my childhood died with her. Even though I hadn’t seen her as
much since leaving for college, she had been such a big part of my life for so
long. I had written her a note when I heard how ill she had became. The card
arrived the day after she had passed.
Super Pastor: In the fourth grade my family switched churches.
Growing up in a believing household we had been going to my mom’s childhood
church since I was born. After grimacing and grueling about starting confirmation
classes at our current church we looked for a new church with a better program.
We ended up at a small rural church. The church was in a process of a
transition. A new pastor was being called for.
When I met Pastor Diener, who stood about 5’3”, I remember
how friendly he was; so inviting and welcoming. I took my confirmation classes
with him and his wife and although he never said it I knew he appreciated my
jokes and begs for forgiveness when I didn’t know my memory work. For years I
was in the church choir. Pastor approached me with the idea of having me do a solo
for a Fourth of July picnic. He had me do solos for other services and encouraged
the beginning of a teen choir at our church. When he announced his retirement
in 2011 he asked if I would sing at his last service. How Great Thou Art rang through that church while the members sat with
bittersweet thoughts of Pastor not coming back. This past summer a few weeks after
getting engaged I called Pastor to tell him the news and ask him to do the honor
of marrying Jon and I. He agreed and I was ecstatic.
The past few months Pastor had been having numerous health
problems. He passed away a couple months after baptizing his newest grand-baby.
Neither of these people were family. Neither did I spend
holidays with or call often. But both helped me grow into the person I have
become. It’s hard letting go of pieces of your life.
Last thought: You never realize how much people influence
your life until they leave it. Everyone you come across gives something to you:
take it and cherish it.
