One Man Came Forward when No One Else Would

I am writing this memoir of a man, whom I had great pleasure in knowing. We met maybe by fate, only God knows. The day I met this man, was in the hospital when my mother was in coma. My parents tried their best to attend church, as my siblings and I went to bible school during the summer,all of us got married in the same church, but then a new pastor took over the church whom my parents did not approve of, they withdrew for not wanting their kids to be exposed to his ways, so it stopped. The reason was, this pastor liked to play the women, drink and then some. It was not a secret among parishioners, as they lost allot of their congregation. We are human, and even the role of pastor, father or whatever your church calls this person, we all can fall to misdoings.

I called up the Lutheran Church where all us children were baptized, attended, and married, the same church my father even build part of ,but, because they fell from the role of attending , even on my mothers death bed, no one would come. I called a little Lutheran church, whose congregation was small, the pastor listened to my story and gladly came to the hospital to give my mother last rights. It was in time, as she passed two days later. We kept in touch over a years time, and then when my father fell ill, he also came and visited my father in the hospital while he was in intensive care, and did the same. All without questioning reasons. He was here to do his work, and serve, and that he did well.

My spouse and I grew a strong friendship with this Pastor. He would send us sermons, as we could not attend church due to work, stop by after Sundays mass, and even send us his homemade jam. He was a compassionate man, who loved his work and did so until the day he could not do no more. I just learned of his passing tonight October 13th, by his daughter, who told me died 2 weeks ago. This man made such a difference in many lives, and will be dearly missed. He showed the proper compassionate way of what a human being is to be, to help those who ask, and not ask why. If he had not came to my mother, she would not have had the symbolic last rights, as so my father.

At each funeral we gave the Pastor money for his services, he sent a note later in the mail, that he had donated it to the boys ranch, one for troubles youths. He also did so with all donations given to him by others. In my mind, this man is an extraordinary man, who this world will dearly miss. If we had more like him, maybe we all would be in a better place. But until then , we all need to recognize these extraordinary men, women and give many thanks for what they do. Pastor Carl Bushee, I will miss you dearly, and you are forever in my heart. You will be dearly missed.