Treasures Hidden in a Field

Treasures Hidden in a Field  

 
About two years ago I had the privilege of getting to know a lady living in a local retirement home whose life of inspiration continues to make an impact upon me. Wylla was a native of Louisiana who moved with her husband to Austin, Texas where her skills as a church musician, a music teacher, and a librarian were put to good use. 

I first met Wylla shortly after she and her husband moved into assisted living. Both were avid readers with their apartment resembling a well-selected library. Wylla grew up on a farm in Louisiana and went on to earn a degree in music from the University of Southwest Louisiana where she was a member of Phi Beta Kappa. She then served as music director and parish librarian for St. Louis King of France Catholic Church here in Austin for many years. 

Wylla committed her life to passing on her gift of music to future generations, teaching music in public schools and giving piano and clarinet lessons. She was a founder of the Austin Civic Chorus. Her husband also enjoyed a fulfilling professional career as a chemist.  

Each week I had the privilege of visiting this amazing couple in their assisted living facility, feeling a close kinship with Wylla since both of us had served as church musicians and music teachers. Then came the privilege of maintaining email contact with their daughter-in-law. One day her daughter-in-law sent the following message: 
“It helps to know that there are people who think of Wylla and Luke as children of God and not as a resident or a patient.” 
Some weeks later, Wylla went to be with her Heavenly Father. But her daughter-in-law’s words will always stay with me.  

All too often in our youth-oriented culture, when we think of senior adults, we focus on their limitations. All too little do we think about the impact that they have had and continue to have on our lives in the world today. These are the people who, by their examples, have nourished us in our faith and demonstrated ways to live out that faith in ministry to others. 
 
During this pandemic season we need to recognize, acknowledge, and respond to the social needs of our senior adults, many of whom live alone and may have no family members close by or none allowed to visit. We need to find ways of reaching out to our senior adults to let them know how much we appreciate them and that we genuinely care about them. Is there someone you can write to or call today?  Maybe it’s an elderly neighbor, relative or friend. And, in so doing, you will live out what it means to be the Body of Christ.