a sermon for Walter Huprich

A reading from Philippians 3:20-21

Walt was a good man, he was committed to serving this community. He served in the military and during his civilian life, Walter served as a police officer and on the civil defense commission.

 

As his family will tell you, Walt liked to stay busy...

He'd often retire, only to find himself taking up another vocation.

It wasn't easy for him to sit still, he got bored easily.

 

But it wasn't just civil service that kept him busy, either. Walt had plenty of hobbies

Even as Walt wrestled with his health, there was the garden that needed attention; and those specials meals to cook.

Apparently Walt could cook a mean pizza, and he loved to share his mother's recipes from Austria.

Yes, Walt liked to stay busy, but he wasn't a busy-body.

In the midst of those jobs he would retire from and then take up again, Walter would make time for his family. Take a vacation so Jared could visit some place or another, and the like.

Yes, while Walt had plenty to keep him busy, there was always time for family, for a friend.

Walt had a way of doing that, of making friends with folks wherever he went. Of helping someone, family or friend, when he could.

That's not to say Walter made friends by doing whatever other folks wanted.

There was a saying...

I believe it was, "Walt's way or no way."

 

Walt could be a stubborn guy.

And it should be said, it served him well. After all let us recall all that we've mentioned that Walt has accomplished.

His commitment to the community, to family and friends; yes it is fair to say that it took a fair amount of dedication, determination, yes even stubbornness...

You see, although Walt managed to serve his country, community and make friends with so many; that does not mean his life was without challenges.

 

Obviously his struggle with lung-cancer was a challenge and just staying as optimistic as he was took stubborn commitment to hope. And, it should be said he leaves us too soon...

Another struggle in Walt's life is that although he was born in Austria, he lived in a "displaced persons camp," before coming to the United States. Then, when Walt was serving in the military, his Austrian citizenship was revoked.

For a while, Walt was a man without a country...

Perhaps that is why he was so restless; why it was such a challenge for Walt to sit, why he was always so quick to make a friend.

Walt knew a thing or two, how precious one's citizenship is and how easily it can be taken away.

Walt knew a thing or two about what the Apostle Paul is talking about in today's reading.

Even here, in the United State, that country he served, Walt knew that ultimately his citizenship was in heaven; perhaps that what kept him so determined and stubborn while he was here.

 

Well, while his stubborn nature has served him well here; now that he is about to receive his final citizenship papers, papers that can never be taken away; it will be Walt's ability to make a friend that is going to serve him best.

You may have noticed that even here, in his final resting, Walt is wearing not the perfunctory suit but a gray, pocketed T.

That T was Walt's choice clothing, and he said if he wasn't resting in one of these Ts, he'd never rest peacefully.

Well, again it's Walt's way or no way.

But let us smile as we note that Walt is about to meet someone who is even more stubborn than he is, someone who has clothing imperishable that is more suiting of Walt and his go, go, go nature anyway.

Yes, as he gets his citizenship papers, he will also be given a transformed body that finally heals his cancer, that he sought for so long to be healed from; a body that will serve his cooking a gardening better, too.

 

While it is fair to say that Walt was stubborn, it is truer to say his ability to make friends is about to serve him much better.

As he meets the one who gives him final citizenship papers and offers new clothing, saying 'you're going to want to wear this instead;" Walt is going to get a lot further by striking up a conversation with that old friend of his.

 

Yes, Walt is about to meet someone who will say, "You're going to want to put this on," and while Walt is stubborn, its fair to say that maybe this time Walt it will let it be someone else's way.

Amen