Marcia Schrage is the wife of my Vicarage supervisor. I first met her when they were in Salem Illinois. She currently lives in Fountain Hills Arizona.

In the summer of 1989 I had recently completed my second year of seminary and had been assigned to Salem Lutheran Church in Salem Illinois to spend a year as a Vicar. (A vicar is a student spending his 3rd year of seminary learning in a congregational setting.) Being a second year student, by definition meant, I felt like I had the world by the tail and knew everything.

Vicarage was a huge adjustment. I was not ready for the work load, I was not ready for the time commitment, I was not ready to learn that I was actually pretty dumb. On top of all the work related adjustments, I was having problems in my personal life. I was slowly coming apart at the seams. But the bigger problem was that I felt I had no one to talk to.

How I got started talking to Marcia, I'm not sure. Maybe it just happened, but Marcia was there to listen. And let me tell you, she really listened! She listened as I tried to work through my personal problems, my work problems, my fears, my anxieties. She even was there when I complained about my supervisor, her husband! She made time out of her busy schedule to let me be myself with her. Even now when I get over focused on my calendar, when I lose touch with what is important, Marcia Schrage still brings me back to reality. I have not talked with her in several years now, but the memory of her still lives with me.

Did I tell you that she wasn't impressed by a seminary education? At times she would listen. But she also would let me have it. When I was walking on thin ice, she told me. When I was full of myself, she let me know. When I was down, she had the words of encouragement. She built me up as I struggled with my sense of the pastoral vocation. She gave me a new perspective on life and service to God when I needed it most.

Jesus tells us that our Father in heaven is always there to hear us. Our Abba is never to busy to hear us. He won't put us on hold. We don't get voice mail. God will always take the time to listen. One lesson of life is that we always have someone to talk to-God. We should never feel that we are alone. Marcia made all this come alive at a time when I needed it most.

St. Paul tells us to "Speak the truth in love." Most people are very ready to speak, but to truly speak the truth in love requires listening. We must really listen if we want to understand them. We have to listen to others to know what to say. The second part is speaking the truth. We must know the truth, Jesus Christ. Then we open our mouths and speak of him. All this is to be covered and bathed in love. Marcia Schrage spoke the truth in love.

I think too often we believe that to shape lives we have to do something.

We are a people who do things, win wars, build cars, grow crops, go to the moon…. We are doers. Sometimes though, the best thing we can do is listen. Listening can do wonders in a person's life. Marcia Schrage did wonders in mine.