disorientation, when nothing seems right and we are confused and angry. Finally, there is reorientation: We arrive in a new place.
two things. We needed God and we needed community.” The book includes many of Steve and Sharol’s CaringBridge entries, and some written by their daughter, Emilie. Readers can see the progression of Steve’s illness. Readers see Steve—at times— struggle to remain positive, and finally, see him embrace death.
Sharol looks at Steve’s last five years in these three movements. When Steve was named president of the Columbia Theological Seminary in 2009, the Hayners were in a place of orientation. “We knew we were where we Throughout the journey, Sharol were supposed to be,” Sharol said. discovered that the deepest grief can be experienced with the Easter weekend 2014, Steve felt deepest joy. “It’s a time for grief, terrible and the ensuing weeks but it’s also a time for gratitude. confirmed cancer, and then inop- As one friend said, grief and gratierable cancer and a season of tude mixed together create joy. disorder. “Change is disorienting,” How true that is,” Sharol wrote. Sharol said. “It was also a time of intense learning and discovering. And finally, after Steve’s death, Steve and I experienced countless Sharol wrote: “Steve’s life gifts, right in the middle of diswas swallowed up by Life this orientation. We knew we needed
afternoon. … He went home before dark without pain and surrounded by family and dear friends. We are grieving, but not as those who have no hope. Truly, it was beautiful to walk him home together and we trust that he is now experiencing the fullness of joy in Jesus’ presence.” Sharol said she still is coming around to the third phase—the reorientation phase, and is excited for what life has in store for her. After Steve’s memorial service, she wrote: “Steve would be close by, reminding us all to live one day at a time before an audience of one, trusting in God who loves us so much and for whom there are no dead ends.” Contact Kay Austin (kaustin@ covenant.org) to purchase a signed copy of Sharol’s book.
POWER FOR PARKINSON’S “I want you to introduce yourselves. Since it’s the beginning of opera season, I want you to sing it out!” That was the direction given by Power for Parkinson’s Move and Shout instructor Lauren Lewis. Lauren was leading a class of nearly 40 people at a noon meeting in Covenant’s Eaton Hall. Why opera? Those suffering from Parkinson’s have weakened muscles and the vocal chords, simply another muscle, start to diminish. Parkinson’s
symptoms include tremors and poor balance. Sufferers also may have cognitive issues, including dementia and depression. Because of these differences, those with Parkinson’s start to spend much time alone, isolated from others. Power for Parkinson’s, launched in January 2013, aims to get Parkinson’s sufferers out, providing free classes around Austin. Lauren was teaching one of
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