Greetings

I don’t know exactly how it happens but this is the time of year to see it. Oops, I forgot to tell you what “it” is. It is the warm wonderful feeling that you get when you see the first light of morning. I’m not talking about sunrise over the lake, which is a tremendous almost shocking experience. I’m talking about the sudden realization that the light has quietly surrounded us.

Here is what happens. You wake up look out the window and see the street light that is across from your bed. You shuffle to the place where your walking clothes have been laid out and after a stop you head down stairs without turning on the light. You leave the house and are struck by the phrase “it is always darkest before the dawn.” As you walk in the stillness your eyes are open but resting. There is really nothing to focus on. Slowly you let your gaze drift upward. The most striking sight is smoke rising from the chimneys.

After a time the black sky turns to navy blue and you can feel a stirring, the sky becomes a steel gray and then you feel as if the bill of your cap has been tilted up. Now it is lighter than the instant before. As you pass through the halo of the next streetlight you notice that images have come into sharp focus and you can see detail in the sidewalk and on the houses that you pass by. You are taken by the realization that the light is as strong outside the glow of the artificial light as it was standing directly under the bulb. And…it is morning.

God said “let there be light and the light was good.

This slow yet dramatic recognition of the light is a model for our seeing the hand of God in our lives. I know that some talk about the experience of being Born Again and I believe that this happens. But I also know that every day of our life we begin the darkness caused by our sinful nature and slowly and without fail we are surrounded by the love of God. His light allows us to see the details of our lives; the cracks in the sidewalks and the peeling paint come into sharp contrast with the beauty of the trees and the many shades of green in the grass.

Here is the punch line: for the maximum impact you have to put yourself in a spot to see the light dawning and you have to look for the signs that emerge in the early morning. The majesty of God’s light is there for us open your eyes and see the wonders of His creation.

School News

If you miss the Walther Christmas concert on Friday, December 7, you miss a big part of Christmas.

Wow! We just received the list of seniors who have been honored as Illinois State Scholars. It is a long list, 25 in all, and the information is embargoed by the Scholarship commission. I hope to share the names with you next week.

There is a complex issue on the horizon that is certain to affect our school. It is the sad but foreseeable outcome that highlights some of the less attractive truths that are pressuring Christian Schools. The demise of the Private School League may be at hand. Three of our member schools have made application to another suburban conference. While it is certainly is their right and responsibility to look for the best possible alliances for their schools we could not disagree more with their assessment of the current athletic landscape and their motivations for leaving our distinctively Christian conference.

One is concerned that the PSL does not offer enough completion for non varsity teams. It is true that some of our schools are too small to have freshmen teams in all sports. Occasionally schools don’t even have sophomore teams.

Another thinks that our football conference is too soft. This is a conference that sent four teams to the State tournament, one to the quarter finals and one to the semis.

A third believes that to be a truly good school a pumped up athletic program is a must. We can only assume that a conference that has sent individuals, and teams to the State final competitions repeatedly, and is not dominated by any one school does not provide enough challenge.

Our perspective is radically different. We place a high value on the loyalty that should have been developed in more than 30 years of uplifting interactions between schools of a similar size and with a stated dedication to the growth of mind, body and spirit.

We have a loyalty to schools that are fighting to revive their enrollment numbers. There is a cycle of success that moves throughout our conference schools. Over a span of 10 years it is possible for State Championship programs to fall on hard times and for the “doormats” to rise to the top of the conference heap.

We believe that schools that do not play football will have trouble finding new affiliations. Schools have left our conference with mixed results and varying impacts on their programs. We often hear that the grass we compete on is often more desirable than pastures

Walther has been an advocate for our Christian Schools doing more than just meeting on the venues of competition. This year we will host a conference for the counselors of our conference schools.

We stand on a commitment to drive our athletes to accomplish great things. Our kids sign pro contracts, receive Division I scholarships and play at Division III schools for the love of the game. Still we have never recruited a kid with the promise of shoes or state championships. Many of our teams don’t make cuts and yet annually earn plaques from the ISHA tournament series.

You better believe that we teach that winning counts. Still, we are infinitely more committed to the prospect that high school athletics in a Christian School are a special tool for building the next generation of leaders in our communities and in our churches.

Walther is seen as a highly desirable athletic affiliate by a number of conferences and groupings of schools, we will find a conference and we will compete. We may even be able to hold the PSL together, this is our greatest hope.
If this topic interests you give us a call. We would love to tell you more. eNews will bring you updates as we move toward a God pleasing answer for our concerns.

Alumni News

Good music is a part of our Christmas joy, and Walther celebrates the music lovers who are a part of this Family. Take a look at the link for a special concert that features Rob Pethes ’86.

The Walther song bird of the 70s is coming to town during the Christmas season. Wanda Houston ’77 will be in the capable hands of Brenda Latzke ’77. We can send along greeting if you like.

Watch the sports sections this week. 2002 grad Bo Flowers will “bowling” with the Fighting Illini. It could be Roses for Flowers if all things work out right.

We heard from Commander Mike Dannenberg ’83 this week. Dr. Dannenberg is at a Naval Hospital in Kuwait. We pray for his safety and for God to work through Mike to give life and hope to the brave men and women who come into his care.

Reunion stuff is starting to happen. Homecoming 2008 year is October 3, 4 & 5.
Judy Schroeder Kearns ’58 is working on the 50th reunion of her class. The ‘68ers have Roberta Kruse at the helm. She has reserved Molly Malone’s. Les Harmeyer ’73, and Darlene Wentland ’78 are looking to serve on a committee. Nikki Massa ’98 is miles ahead of the curve and Joanna Serpico Schubkegel says that is a good thing.

God’s blessings

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