John 14:1-6; 2 Timothy 4:6-8; Isaiah 43:1-3a, 25
In the Name of the Father and of the + Son and of the Holy Spirit.
Marvin was a philatelist. Now, don’t get upset with me. I’m not saying anything rude or crude about Marvin, I’m saying that he was a lover of stamps. Marvin was a stamp collector. He collected hundreds, even thousands of stamps over many, many years and he kept them and cared for them and enjoyed sorting them and cataloging them and simply looking at them. Stamps are common things. Most people buy them and use them and don’t think twice about it. They can be found on nearly every piece of mail that comes into our homes, businesses, schools, and places of employment. We throw countless canceled stamps in the garbage every year. But that was Marvin. Marvin loved the simple things in life: Collecting stamps, spending time with family, teasing Darlys and the grandkids. Life was simple and good from Mavin’s perspective, and nothing was so bad that a hearty belly-laugh couldn’t make it better. Marvin’s advice was, “You just plant a seed and watch it grow.” Now, that may seem obvious, common sense, but that is a perspective that is in short supply these days. That’s a gift. That’s contentment and peace. That’s what faith looks like bearing trials, tribulations, and crosses without being crushed, but actually being an encouragement to others. That was Marvin.
Marvin grew up in Bremer like so many here at St. John and in the Waverly community. He was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Bremer and attended school there as well. After marrying Darlys in 1949, the couple raised their family on a family farm just north of Bremer. From my limited experience talking with Marvin and Darlys and with so many others from Bremer, there was something special about that community. Folks were simple and common, down to earth, good people. They may have lived simply, but they were wise. They worked hard. They knew where their food, clothing, and shelter came from and what was necessary to have it, keep it, and maintain it. They were both humble and proud at the same time, and there’s no sin in that when you’re proud for the right reasons. Family, faith, farm, friends, honesty, integrity, and keeping your word, resilience fortified with hope, these were the core values that characterized Marvin and made him the father, husband, grandfather, friend, and brother in Christ we remember and give thanks to God for this day.
Marvin learned much growing up on a farm and then farming himself for over forty-five years. Marvin knew much about cows. He loved and was proud of his dairy herd, which was one of the top herds in Bremer County. Darlys was known to say that he loved his cows more than her. Now, we know that is not true, but he did love his cows! Later Marvin worked for the American Breeding Service (ABS) and he would visit farms and advise farmers which cows and bulls to breed for the best milk production and overall health and strength. In fact, Marvin was so knowledgeable and skillful that he and Darlys traveled all over the country and even to Mexico to provide his counsel and advice. It goes without saying that Marvin’s knowledge and skill with dairy cows made him an excellent judge at county fairs for 4H and FFA, but he never judged the Bremer County Fair because he knew and had worked with the youth who showed there and didn’t want to risk being partial to them. Marvin was a mentor to children and youth. He taught them a good work ethic, good pride in their work, and resilience, endurance, and perseverance. Marvin’s grandchildren benefitted from his calm, steady guidance and encouragement as he guided them in the right direction and encouraged them to complete what they started and persevere through a setback.
I realize that I’ve used words like resilience, perseverance, endurance, contentment, and peace in describing Marvin. That’s what I think of when I think of Marvin, and after talking with his family a bit this past week I got the sense that you think of him in this way as well. You may not have used the same words, but the sentiment was the same. Marvin was kind, accepting, joyful, and a fun guy to be around. Do you realize how rare these qualities are today? Such qualities flow from a heart that is content and at peace, not restless and always seeking pleasure and fulfillment in things it doesn’t have or cannot obtain. How does one obtain such peace and contentment? Where does such peace and contentment come from? I maintain that it came from that simple, common farm life in Bremer and from a little church in that community that shaped and formed Marvin’s faith.
Jesus teaches, “Let not your hearts be troubled.” Why should your hearts be untroubled? Because you “believe in God,” and you also believe in Jesus. That is to say that your peace and contentment come from outside of you, and that’s why you can trust it, stand upon it, and persevere and endure. Jesus is our rock and a solid foundation that will not move no matter what may threaten us. Our God is not a God who is far off, but a God who is so very near to us because He actually became one of us in the incarnation of His Son Jesus. Jesus knows our needs, wants, and desires; Jesus knows our temptations, weaknesses, and fears; Jesus knows our pain and suffering, grief, and sorrow, both for ourselves and for those we love. Jesus knows it all, experienced it all, suffered it all and persevered and endured through it all for you, for me, for Marvin, and for all humankind. Through our Lord Jesus God calls each of us by name to be His children: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine.”
Jesus’ peace and contentment, Jesus’ forgiveness and reconciliation come from outside of us, therefore we can trust in it and be at peace. The LORD called Marvin to faith and sealed Him with His gracious promise in Holy Baptism so many years ago. The LORD blessed Marvin with the peace of the Holy Spirit and promised him, “I will never leave you or forsake you,” “I am with you always,” and “Nothing can separate you from my love in Jesus Christ.” “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.” If God is for us, who can be against us? Jesus was the source of Marvin’s peace and contentment, his joy in the face of trial, tribulation, and suffering, and the source of his resilience, perseverance, and encouragement of others.
Let not your hearts be troubled. Jesus passed through the valley of the shadow of death, a valley we created by sinful rebellion and sin-ruined hearts and minds, and He defeated death and the grave that would have kept us in that valley for eternity. Jesus destroyed that gate, removed the stone that kept us in our tombs, and made death a welcome mat at the entrance of our Father’s home in heaven. Jesus has gone there to prepare a place for Marvin and for you that you may dwell with Him in His Father’s kingdom forevermore. Marvin “fought the good fight,” “finished the race,” and “kept the faith.” Let God’s promises kept for Marvin be encouragement and comfort for you until you meet him again in our Father’s house.
In the + Name of Jesus. Amen.
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