On Christmas Eve, I was notified by my Pastor that Ralph Kohrs had passed away unexpectedly. For those who have been around the South Wisconsin District and the Milwaukee metro area for a long time, chances are good that your path and Ralph's path crossed. Ralph was a long time teacher and choir director at Mt. Olive Lutheran School in Milwaukee. Prior to that he served as a teacher at Milwaukee Lutheran High School. Ralph was the definition of a Lutheran educator and a churchman. He was involved in more activities and events than I can write in this space. So, it was no surprise that the Mt. Olive sanctuary was full for Ralph's funeral service on New Year's Eve.
 

While waiting for the service to start, Robin texted me to ask if I could bring a bulletin from the service back to the office for Ralph's official file. I was sitting next to Gene Ladendorf (Regional Superintendent, Interim Principal at Mt. Olive) when I got the text. I said something to him about "we spend our life working in Lutheran schools and it officially ends with a piece of paper in the District files." I know it doesn't totally make sense, and it is no doubt a depressing thought, but there was something about the finality of death that hit me as I grabbed an extra bulletin for his official file.
 

We spend our years serving our Lord in Lutheran schools. We shape the lives of children and families through the help of the Holy Spirit. And, yet we are only instruments of God. God uses us for His purpose and when that purpose has been fulfilled, He calls us home to him. Our work in God's earthly kingdom may ceremoniously come to end when a funeral bulletin is placed into our official files, but our impact continues. That piece of paper does not, and could not, adequately show the eternal impact that we have made here on earth. God has placed you into your position in ministry to bring others to Him for eternity. This is a responsibility, a calling, which is to be cherished and honored every day.