My view


of how God’s people bring to the world what it so dearly wants to know, feel and believe. The article gives me hope that words of God’s own making seed godly wisdom beyond what any of we


church-writers could ever accomplish. Bob Sitze Wheaton, Ill.


What bliss A reader informs us (October, page 48) that for decades our seminaries have been teaching anti-Americanism, criticizing Western culture, capitalism, human initiative, and have undermined the obvious correlation of these patri- otic values with the kingdom of God. When members of my family and I attended seminary, we were studying and considering the Gospels, not the constitution; the meaning of the cross and resurrection, not American excep- tionalism; stewardship of God’s beau- tiful creation, not some fundamentals on plunder of the earth; the love of God as pure gift, the gift of grace, not a sign of blessing on ambition and industri- ousness; the discipleship of all people and all nations, not a gathering of an elitist corps of the “educated, success- ful, patriotic members” of the ELCA. I am more than thankful for our ELCA seminaries, for the servant work they perform, and for their continuing renewal of the church’s commitment to the One who is not king of a country but Lord of all who calls us to love as


he has loved us. The Rev. Jack R. Lewis Minneapolis, Minn.


Send “Letters” to: Letters to the Editor, The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631-4183; fax: 773-380- 2409; email lutheran@thelutheran.org. Please include your name, city and state. Your letter will be considered for publication unless you state otherwise. The Lutheran publishes letters representa- tive of those received on a given subject. Be brief and limit your letter to a single topic. Letters may be edited for space and clarity. Letters must be signed, but a re- quest for anonymity will be honored if the subject matter is personally sensitive.


Nelsen, is pastor of St. Paul and Trinity Lutheran churches, Gaylord, Minn. For- merly he was dean of St. Olaf College, Northfield, Minn.; president of Augus- tana College, Sioux Falls, S.D.; and presi- dent of Scholarship America.


I


By William C. Nelsen


Twin towers of life Water and the Spirit sustain us


n summer 2003, I walked from downtown Minneapo- lis to downtown Chicago, a journey of 500 miles over 25 days. At the time I was president of Scholarship America, the nation’s largest nonprofit scholarship orga- nization. The walk raised gifts and pledges of $1.8 million from individuals, corporations and foundations for post- secondary student financial aid.


For me this venture was more than a fundraiser. Some things are only possible while walking—roadside con- versations with farmers and merchants; greetings (mostly friendly) from cows, horses, pigs, sheep, cats and lots of dogs; sounds one usually doesn’t hear—birds calling and answering, leaves rustling in the wind; and time to enjoy silence and think and pray.


And whenever I approached a small town, I’d first see two towers.


The words “twin towers” bring to mind terrible images of Sept. 11, 2001. Yet for me those words now also pro- duce life-giving images of a town’s water tower and a tall church steeple. The water tower represents our common need for water, food and shelter to sustain and protect life. The church steeple represents our need for spiritual sustenance. We need the church to teach and preach the most important things of life, to renew our faith, to help us through times of struggle and joy. Even for those who don’t attend church, a steeple points to larger meaning and mystery, and to our responsibility to love and care for others. During my trek, water and the Spirit were vital. Water kept my body going and sustained my energy. The Spirit encouraged me when my feet were sore, blistered and hot.


“My view” submis- sions should be 400 words on a societal event or issue or on issues in the life of the ELCA. All submis- sions are subject to editing. Send to: “My view, ” The Lutheran, 8765 W. Higgins Rd., Chicago, IL 60631; e-mail: lutheran@ thelutheran.org; fax: 773-380-2409.


For Christians, the twin towers of water and the Spirit come together in baptism. In the waters of baptism we are reborn as children of God, inheritors of eternal life. And by water and the Spirit we are made members of God’s com- munity of believers. What wonderful gifts we find through both water and the Spirit. During that long walk in 2003, something else hap- pened. God reminded me of the call to ministry I’d first heard as a student at Midland Lutheran College (now Mid- land University), Fremont, Neb. So after “retirement” in 2004 I went to seminary at age 65. Now as an ordained pastor in the ELCA, I am on another journey—one I hope will last a long time, sustained by the “twin towers” of life. M


December 2011 49


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