St. Paul Lutheran Church in East Lansing, Michigan. Member congregation of the ELCA - Evangelical Lutheran Church of America.

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April 2006

This Easter I want to share with you a few reminiscences of a friend and relative from years ago. I haven't seen her much in the last years, but she is still a part of my life and important to me. This is my Aunt Clarine Moe. She recently died silently in her sleep. She was married to my Uncle Harlan. They had no biological children but several looked to them with special affection and love. They lived in the country with Harlan both farming and working in a factory in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Harlan died eleven years ago.

Clarine's specialty was her garden, both flower and vegetable. In earlier years I remember the vegetables as much as the flowers growing at her final earthly home, she and Harlan had planted a huge space with enough produce to feed a lot of people. But I think other than Harlan flowers were her real love. I think all of us enjoyed seeing the results of her labors in her flower gardens. She would tell us the names of many different varieties that I promptly forgot and only now when Barb tells me do I remember about half of them. Barb and Clarine have this same love. There were many varieties that brought all colors and shapes that in some ways seem extraordinary as I look back on it. Here in these country gardens the beauty of God's creation showed forth in abundant glory. She used her diligent labors in the garden to create and share with neighbors and loved ones from the bounty of the earth and her love.

She shared her faith in God and Jesus Christ very simply and directly. Good was good and right was right. The Ten Commandments were never to be broken and God and Jesus were always loving and caring. And we are to imitate Jesus in all things. I believe she was the first person from who I ever heard the line, "What would Jesus do?" This was many years before it became a slogan and a way to sell jewelry or Tshirts. She applied that phrase to everyday questions of behavior. Whether it was a person who wandered onto their place in the country needing some food or a bird or animal needing care after an accident or injury. I see her as a child of her heavenly Father as we are all called to be.

I'm sure she wasn't perfect and there were times that she didn't follow her Lord's teaching, but I believe that we can celebrate in knowing that this Easter she is with Harlan and other loved ones that have gone on before us who are with our Lord Jesus. I am happy to have known her, especially as a child and growing youth. She is one I will look forward to seeing in the heavenly family reunion through the grace of Jesus Christ when my time comes. A few thoughts and reflections on a beautiful person I have known.

As we gather this Holy Week to reflect on Christ Jesus' action to save us and the world I hope your life will be blessed and I invite you to join us in each of the services. In our world of uncertainty let us celebrate the certain hope and joy we have in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Celebrate His Resurrection and Yours,

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