I teach a course presently at Bakke Graduate University which help those pursuing a Doctor of Ministry degree to begin forming their thoughts about their dissertation. Yesterday, on Saturday evening, I attended the graduation ceremonies at Bakke held in the historic First Presbyterian Church in downtown Seattle. The graduating class this year had five graduates with a Masters of Theological Studies and twenty-three graduates with a Doctor of Ministry. Attending this service reminded me of my own graduation just a little over a year ago from George Fox University with my second Doctor of Ministry degree. My, how time files.

Donna and I missed the first part of the service because of a forty-five minute traffic jam getting into downtown Seattle, and on a Saturday evening at that. The service had one note of sadness. The Chairman of the Board of Directors, Norm Maleng passed away unexpectedly the end of May. Ray Bakke, the present Chancellor and Norm Maleng grew up together in a small rural town in Northwest Washington. Ray and Norm road a bus to an from school for eleven of their twelve years in school. One thing stood out in Ray’s small eulogy. Ray, Norm, and one other boy attended a small church and their Sunday School teacher according to Ray “poured his life into those three children.” One went and served in Africa for twenty-two years, one became the Chief Prosecuting Attorney for King County, Washington for twenty-eight years, and the other spent twenty plus years pastoring and teaching in Chicago before returning to Seattle to become Chancellor of a graduate school which reaches students all around the world.

That Sunday School teacher may have never knows that the small but faithful and persistent thing he was doing would be used by God to reach more people that that one Sunday School teacher could have ever imagined. Small things count, and sometimes God often makes big things out of them.

It was fun to introduce my wife to faculty and those who work in the fabric of Bakke on a day to day basis. Well it’s 1:45 am Sunday morning. Guess I better “hit the hay!”

Today I heard that a friend of mine, Debbie Hunter, lost here mom last week. I sent her a copy of the following that I wrote about ten years ago.

Life must continue for individuals who remain when a loved one dies. There are many adjustments which must occur. Mourning without guilt is a goal for all who are left behind. The following are the stages of grief in which people fluctuate. There is a normal movement from the first to the last, while at the same time there is vacillation.

• Shock and Emotional Freeze-Up. When a person dies, either expectedly or unexpectedly, the ones who remain are left in shock. Their emotions temporarily freeze. In this stage it is good to weep.
• Problem Distinguishing Between Fact and Fantasy. There is an expectation that the deceased will return at any moment. Many things will remind them of their loved ones. A person will sometimes live in a life of fantasy and think it to be fact.
• Emotional Flood Gates Open at the Most Unexpected Moment. Because people often restrain their emotions, they will often break at a later stage. One should not be ashamed of this occurring regardless of the place or time. It is usually uncontrollable.
• Association. The most difficult time a person lives through after a death is the special days like Christmas, Thanksgiving, birthdays, anniversaries, etc. During these times of association, grieving people need extra care. There are many things which arouse association. It is okay to ask for special care and attention during these times.
• Acceptance. At this point fact becomes real. This does not mean that emotions will not surge or associations will not occur. It does mean that the person remaining accepts the facts and faces life accordingly.
• Facing the Future. A person never gets over sharing life without someone else. However, one must adjust to life without the presence of the loved one. Set some goals, do some things you have always wanted to do (Kübler-Ross, Elisabeth, On Death and Dying. 1969).

This is a great story. Read the article and watch “the grainy video clip of his jaw-dropping accomplishment — and the pandemonium that ensued in the gym” at ESPN. When you’ve got a shot take it.