“For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.” (Jeremiah 29:11).
June 16, 2011, was one of those “first days of the rest of your life” kind of days: my first day working for Bethesda Lutheran Communities in Watertown, Wis.
The first thing on my agenda was to attend a luncheon celebrating the $136,317 “Thrivent Choice” dollars granted to Bethesda. I am proud to say that I was one of Thrivent Financial for Lutherans members who cast a “Thrivent Choice” vote for Bethesda.
At the close of the luncheon, guests were invited to turn over a page and note if they found a number on it. Ten lucky people received a gift made by people supported by Bethesda Lutheran Communities.
I did not have a number on my page; I had “XXXOOO” which I assumed meant “Sorry, you don’t win, but here are hugs and kisses.” It actually meant “You win the grand prize!” I received a basket containing handmade soy candles, Christmas cards, note cards and a package of fire starters. Lovely!
That afternoon I attended a helpful presentation on quality measures. The next day I had the time to meet with my new team and colleagues. Such good people! Such great work!
Through July 29, I’m working on contract. This allows me to work from my Park Ridge, Ill., home while my ankle continues to heal. The contract also allows me to focus on a communication audit and messaging project. I’ll move to Watertown in August and begin as a full-time employee on August 15.
My gift was soon put to good use. Tuesday evening, June 21, a severe storm blew through the area and blew out the power to 180,000 households, including 80 percent of the households in Park Ridge. The two soy candles offered a gracious glow as dusk set in Wednesday evening. Power returned on Thursday afternoon, in time for me to take the elevator (yea!) to head out to my physical therapy appointment.
You don’t need to look hard to find an ending in, with, and under a new beginning. As I begin the new volume titled “Bethesda Lutheran Communities,” I close the book detailing 22.5 years with ELCA churchwide ministries. In these transitional times I trust in God’s plans for me, plans for a future with hope.
—Sue Edison-Swift (6/25/2011)
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