Achiever

This past week our good friend, Richard Kramer, celebrated his 75th birthday. And so our small group gathered together for a summer cook out and get together. And as our custom, we enjoyed a great evening of food, laughter, friendship, celebration and prayer. You can see a slide show here.

In his earlier life, Richard was a sculptor. His birthday cake had a photo of one of his pieces titled, Achiever. Richard wrote this poem to accompany the metal sculpture.

The crucible of life
Destroys us utterly.
But some are purified
And rise above
This common pool of pain
By vision, faith and discipline
To show the way for others.
Let it be me to show
Yet let me also humbly follow.

Richard is an achiever. He grew up in Cologne, Germany during World War 2. Some of his family members were killed during the relentless bombings. Ricard lived on his own as a teen and then moved to Canada when he was in his early 20s. He was alone in a foreign culture, not knowing the language or any people who could help him.

Richard knows the pain of loosing loved ones through death, even suicide. He also knows of a sovereign God who reveals His ways but sometimes keeps the "whys" of life veiled. Richard knows pain, but he also knows grace.

Richard is a unique, one of a kind servant, beautifully forged from the crucible of life. His faith, his vision and his discipline are an inspiration to all who know him! In Christ, Richard is an achiever.

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. 
Isaiah 55:10-11