[Dialogue] DICK KROEGER'S PASSING

[David & Lin Zahrt]

David & Lin, Bill & Carol Schlessinger, and Sandy Conant, were in  
charge of opening the Rochester House in the fall of 1970. There were  
2 Rochester pastors--Chuck Taylor, and Bob Booher, who were  
instrumental in inviting us to do so. They made certain that we had  
the kind of support we needed in the Rochester Metro. And there was  
strong support from the Binghamton Metro--Garnet, Dick and Amelia  
were at the core of that support. Of course there were others in the  
Metro and across the Region. They too, were a tribute to the movement  
and the establishment of the Rochester House.

If my memory serves me correctly the Kroegers were in on the  
financing of the house we purchased. I don't think we would have been  
able to open the Rochester House as we did without the staunch  
support of the Kroegers.

When we lost Jay (Jan 2005) we discovered that such a sudden death  
presents a shock--a shock that takes a good deal of time from which  
to recover. However, we were deeply appreciative of the fact that he  
knew his life might have an early ending, and he knew and had stated,  
that he didn't want to be on some kind of indefinite life-support  
system that modern medicine is to able to provide. He went the way he  
desired to go. Shortly after his death we lost my Mother. We were  
relieved of the shock. It was a time of grief, but we realized that  
we had been grieving the duration of her decline.

I visited Minneapolis, stayed with Kroegers in the fall of 2006, and  
attended an NSP meeting they participated in establishing. Kroegers  
managed to visit us on their way back from a trip to Colorado in the  
summer of 2007. I shared with them my non-sectarian table grace that  
I use with all of our B&B guests. The 'script' follows.

David Steindl-Rast in his book GRATEFULNESS; THE HEART OF PRAYER  
indicates that he watches
people go through life looking for a way to be happy, so they can be  
grateful for their life.
However, he observes that it isn't Happiness that makes you Grateful.  
It's Gratefulness that makes you happy!
When I looked into my own life to discover where Gratefulness comes  
out spontaneously
I discovered that the mealtime is one of those places: I'm on the  
receiving end of things (the food on the table) and I'm with family  
or friends.
Since I don't know your particular persuasion, I ask that we let that  
be a non-sectarian table grace:
Let's eat and be Grateful. We're certainly grateful that you've come  
to stay with us.
What are the things for which you are Grateful?...Responses...Amen.
Let us feast.

Shortly after the Kroegers returned home we got a book in the mail  
from them. A GRATEFUL HEART: Daily Blessings for the Evening Meal  
from Buddha to The Beatles.

It is clear to me that we will all miss Dick. It is also clear that  
it is time to rejoice in a life lived. It's clearer and clearer we're  
all headed that way!

David

David & Lin Zahrt
Country Homestead B&B
22133 Larpenteur Rd.
Turin, IA 51040
-- Doorway to the Loess Hills -
<http://country-homestead.com>
Where a change of pace is as good as a vacation, and a sense of place  
is soothing to the soul.
<chbnb at netins.net>
Skype <loesshills>




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