I was moved by reading this post by Mark Scandrette about his friend, Dieter Zander. You may not know the name, but Dieter was an early leader in getting “church” outside the box of American churchianity. I met and interviewed him many years ago when he was living in a cool house in San Francisco with a skateboard propped outside the door. For two hours he inspired my wife and I with tales of re-imagining what it might look like to follow Jesus together in the most liberal city in America. He left a lasting impact on my thinking.

Mark Scandrette writes:

Last year Dieter had a sudden stroke that left him significantly disabled with a speech impediment and some physical paralysis. Known and loved for his ability to teach and inspire, with an exceptional gift for making people aware of God’s presence through music, this stroke, as you may well imagine, has been simply devastating.

“What does the second half of life look like when so much of what you have known and been identified with has taken from you? And how do I comfort a friend who has suffered and lost so much?”…

(Later at a local pub)

We sit across from one another at a local brewpub, talking slowly, sometimes eating in awkward silence and with eyes full of tears. Even with his limited capacity for speech Dieter finds ways to convey his love, concerns and affirmation. I’ve come here today to pay my respects to a mentor, to receive his wisdom about the struggles and seasons of life, and maybe to offer some encouragement and comfort. “Mark, I’m in the winter, ” he says, “The spring. The summer. They were new and exciting. The fall was still colorful– even when you feel the chill of winter coming. But the winter, here it is dark and cold. You are in the fall, headed towards winter, where I am. We don’t know when or if spring and summer will come again.” I tentatively ask Dieter how he is learning to make sense of the unfolding story of his life. “It would take a long time for me to explain,” he says, “Its hard to talk about. Maybe you and I will go on a retreat someday and I will tell you. For now I will say– I know that God loves me more than I ever knew before– and that my family and my friends are so important– and I love the small things– the food and drink, sunshine, sleep, and walking with my dog. To love and be loved is what really matters to me now. It took me along time to learn this.”

Amen. What can anyone say to follow up after such words.

FYI, Mark Scandrette has written a great book called Soul Graffiti. I bought that book after hearing about Mark’s connection with Dieter. I read most of it, and it’s very good. But one day I was having coffee with a friend and lent it to him. My friend wouldn’t call himself a follower of Jesus at all, but he loved the book so much he told all his friends about it. He’s never given it back to me though, so maybe it’s found a home.