EN(dur)ANCE by Robin Gudal

 

Pastor Roy Mumm had huge feet. His hands were ginormous.

He was the interim pastor at Trinity Lutheran in Albert Lea, Bricelyn Lutheran (that’s where I first met him) and at Dell Lutheran in Frost, among other churches he pastored I am not in the know of.

He was my confirmation teacher and confirmed me. His insight and teachings were very instrumental in the formation and growth of my faith. He later married Greg and I and baptized our firstborn son. He has a very special spot in my heart.

He started his sermons with Psalm 19:14 (NIV) “May these words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

His sermons were short. He spoke truth without apologizing as he always delivered it with love and kindness. He was wise.

Once after a sermon at Dell, as he was greeting people at the end of the service, he asked my father, “How are you, Tracy?”

As the story goes, my dad replied, “I have sore feet!”

In his kindness and caring manner, he inquired, and Dad replied “They are sore from you stepping all over them!”

This is where I fill in the blanks as I am not sure how it went after that with true confirmation. I would guess he took his large palm, attached to the largest hands I as a teenager had ever witnessed, gently and affectionately patted my dad on the shoulder, smiled and wished him a great week. I also would presume he prayed for my dad and our family. He cared about people. You felt it!

Florence was his wife. She was petite, sweet, soft spoken and welcomed Greg and I as a young couple into their home. I don’t know much about her, I just have a happy and honorable feeling when I think of her. I imagine she was also his cheerleader.

Maybe you knew Pastor Roy Mumm, maybe you didn’t, but we all need a Pastor Mumm in our life. Someone who is kind. Someone who challenges us to be better and do better. Someone who cares about us, but even more; wants us to know Jesus. That person, that when you think of them, you just can’t help but smile, and I don’t mean think about smiling, I mean it physically puts a smile on your face. Someone who makes you know you matter.

“For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:2 (NIV)

Robin (Beckman) Gudal, intentional in life, is a wife, momma, nana, friend, and a flawed and imperfect follower of Jesus.