Elder Wisdom by Vicki

As elders we are asked to reflect on a life or faith event that has been especially meaningful. I am going back many years to a decision making time that would impact the rest of my life. When I was in high school and trying to decide where I might go to college, my minister, Rev. Stanley Letchur Jr, (better known as Woody), played a very important role. When he came to our church as a senior minister (Clovis, NM), he was instantly popular with youth and adults alike. For the youth, we were impressed by his imitation of Woody the Woodpecker, a popular cartoon of the time, and for the adults, he was a great preacher and caring pastor.

Woody had gotten his undergraduate degree at Phillips University (Enid, OK), felt strongly that I would also love it, and was responsible for helping me get a merit scholarship. He was right; I felt very much at home at Phillips. That is where I met my future husband of over 61 years, Bob. As most of you know, Bob was dedicated to ministry over several decades. Although I just attended Phillips for two years and finished later at Butler University (Indianapolis, IN), that period of time was the beginning of my adult life. Even though teaching and educational diagnostics became my professional career, the church was the center of my married life to Bob and was the way we raised our children, Rob and Shawna. Unfortunately, Phillips no longer has an undergraduate school and is now a seminary only, but I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to attend Phillips as an undergraduate. The decisions we make in those early years are so very important and greatly influence our future. I thank God for guidance during that critical time in my life and for the kindness and counsel of a minister we called Woody.

Taken from The Good News Bible, Today’s English Version

Psalms 103: 13 - 18

As kind as a father is to his children,

So kind is the Lord to those who honor Him.

He knows what we are made of; He remembers that we are dust.

As for us, our life is like grass. We grow and flourish like a wild flower.

Then the wind blows on it, and it is gone - no one sees it again.

But for those who honor the Lord, His love lasts forever,

and His goodness endures for all generations of those who are

true to His covenant and who faithfully obey His commands.