by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Beginning a New Chapter in Life

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

Tomorrow is my last Sunday at Holy Cross Lutheran Church. I will start a six month sabbatical on October 1 followed by my retirement in April of 2022. I’ve been privileged to serve as a pastor at Holy Cross for over twenty-two  years, longer than I could have imagined when I first began my ministry here in July of 1999.

This has been a time for me to reflect not only on my twenty-two years of ministry here, but my nearly forty years of being a pastor. It all began at Calvary Lutheran Church in Lincoln, Nebraska, then at Redeemer Lutheran Church in Spokane, Washington, then at Our Savior Lutheran Church in Portland, Oregon and finally here at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado.

Where did the time go!

Reflecting on the past is not a perfect science. There are events that people remind me of, but I have no recollection. There are situations that I remember differently from other people. There are somethings that I’m not sure ever happened and some I’d like to forget.

At the end of Paul’s life he reflected on his journey as a fight and a race.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”
2 Timothy 4:7 English Standard Version

I’m not at the end of my life, or at least I don’t think so, but the end of a chapter in my life. By the mercy of God and only the mercy of God I have fought this fight and run this race. Because of Christ and only Christ I have kept the faith.

I still have sermons to preach, devotions to write, pictures to take. On this new adventure I pray that I would continue to fight the fight, run the race, and keep the faith and that there will be more times of reflection ahead.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado