With Vaudine, and all the saints

We laud and magnify your holy name

Moravian Daily Text for Saturday, November 5th

For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8.38-39

Trinity, along with much of Jesus’ church will observe All Saints Sunday tomorrow. It will be even more real since Vaudine Beal joined the Church triumphant yesterday evening. Vaudine was born on February 26, 1929 and fell asleep in the Lord on Friday, November 4, 2022. We will be as close to Vaudine and all the saints as is earthly possible as we draw near to the crucified and risen Lord at the Trinity altar where heaven touches earth, the kingdom of life breaks into the domain of death. As we do every Sunday, we will join with angels and archangels, and with all the saints and we will offer our worship to the worthy Lamb who was slain, and who has already begun his reign.

The Augsburg Confession (article XXI) “It is also taught among us that saints should be kept in remembrance so that our faith may be strengthened when we see what grace they received and how they were sustained by faith.”

I could make it more personal. “Vaudine should be kept in remembrance so that our faith may be strengthened when we see what grace she received and how she was sustained by faith.” How will I remember Vaudine? How does the blessed remembrance of her strengthen my faith? How does her manner of life bear witness to the grace she received and how was her faith sustained.

1. Vaudine was regenerated as an adult, but came like a child. She was invited to Trinity by a loving neighbor, and soon came to the assurance of God’s gift of salvation through Jesus Christ. She started at square one, and didn’t pretend otherwise. Vaudine got a crash course in the sweeping redemptive narrative in the Bible when Pastor Larry Christenson assigned her charge of the girls catechism class. Two years in the Old Testament and one year in the New, the Trinity Bible Series was Vaudine’s ABC’s of the Christian faith. She told me, “I learned everything 5 minutes before my students learned it. I learned right alongside the kids.” Jesus said, Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 18.3

   

2. Vaudine knew the joy of repentance and forgiveness. Pastor Christenson had learned a helpful practice from Agnes Sanford—the systematic and comprehensive written and oral confession of every sin that had any accusing power against the new believer. Vaudine practiced this early on, and it provided an almost therapeutic kind of cleansing healing. Absolution was the joy of her salvation that God renewed again and again. God loved delivering his goods to Vaudine, and she loved receiving them. Vaudine continued to keep short accounts, and seemed to walk and live with a lightness that can only come from the soul’s regular unburdening before a gracious God.

3. Vaudine was a Moravian Daily Texter. Before it was readily available like it is now, Pastor Christenson would have the office mimeograph the Moravian Daily Texts, one week at a time for distribution on Sunday for the upcoming week. Vaudine learned very early how to pray, not from the poverty of her own heart, but from the riches of God’s Word (Bonhoeffer). Vaudine was an intercessor. Her place was in the prayer chapel, and she had many praying friends. But, Vaudine was friends with God. God would bear his heart to her, and she would bear her heart to him.

   

   

4. Vaudine was human. She could be herself and didn’t have to be someone else. When a call went out for a need for help in the kitchen she told me, “That’s not my place.” She was right. It wasn’t. Her place was in the prayer chapel. She didn’t feel anxious about the limits of her calling and gifts. She also didn’t judge herself or others. She had a significant calling. So did people with other callings. It wasn’t that she was doing spiritual work and those in the kitchen were doing practical work. Everyone was free to do what God had called them to do. Vaudine could be herself, which was permission for those around her to be themselves. I would call it disarming. You didn’t have to put on any armor, or pious mask when you were with Vaudine. Vaudine had affections, likes and dislikes, simple joys. She loved (later she confessed addiction) to International Delight coffee. Early in my time at Trinity, I looked forward to a cup of that sweet coffee on communion visits with Vaudine and Roy. By the time I met him, Roy was experiencing profound memory care issues. But, he still remembered the Lord’s Prayer, had a joyful twinkle in his eye, and loved putting puzzles together at the kitchen table. Vaudine took such good care of him. She loved Celtic musical programs on PBS. She loved vacations, and especially a memorable cruise with her beloved family. We both loved British television, especially quirky Doc Martin. She loved her daughters, grandsons, their spouses, and her new great-grand daughter with all her heart. “I have a lot of treasure I’m leaving behind, but I have a lot a treasure ahead.” Vaudine really wanted to live long enough to meet her new great granddaughter. That wish was granted, not long ago, when Aaliyah Vaudine was born. But she is also now reunited with her parents and Roy and her sister and many friends, including Jean Hahn. She told me many times that she missed the fellowship that developed through shared intercession with Jean.

   

5. Vaudine was on the way. Before Roy went to be with the Lord, he used to go to adult day care. Sometimes when Vaudine picked him up he would recognize her, and sometimes he wouldn’t. One day it was clear that he did not recognize her, but he got in the passenger seat and initiated conversation, “Where should we go?” Vaudine was surprised because he usually didn’t ask questions this open-ended, unrehearsed. She asked him back, “Where would you like to go?” Without flinching he smiled at her and said, “Wherever you are going.” This was Roy’s trusting heart in his beloved wife. This was also Vaudine’s trusting heart in her beloved Lord. Vaudine was on the Jesus way. I read John 14 to her on Wednesday. I said, “Vaudine, Jesus is coming for you soon. He wants you to be with him. You can trust the Good Shepherd when he comes and says, “Vaudine, follow me. I have a place I’ve prepared for you, that where I am, you may be also.”