The Meyer Minute for September 6, 2013

From my sermon for today's opening service at Concordia Seminary: Three adult children came to the hospital to visit their dying father.  One child came in and the elderly man said, “Son, daughter, (whichever it was), your mother and I are so proud of you.  You’ve done well in life, have a fine family but most important of all you have not left your Lord or your church.  When you were little and it was bedtime, we used to say, ‘Good night,’ not ‘Good bye’ because we knew we’d see each other in the morning.  Now I say, ‘Good night’ because we will see each other again.”  A second child came in; same conversation.  Finally the third child came in.  "Your mother and I are so proud of you.  You’ve done well in life, have a fine family but we are grieved that you've left your Lord and your church.  Now I must say, ‘Good bye’ because we will not see one another again.”  As the story was told to me, that night he died.  Many in the church would say, “How terribly sad!"  No!  Our passion must be, “Let’s go out and find that child!"