When I was asked to do a testimony and looked at the questions that needed to be addressed, I knew this would not be an easy task for me. The question of what brought me here requires me to take a look back and see the road that has led me here in this new position as the DLRE. If you had told me a year ago that I would be here among you, I would have laughed. But life presents us with unexpected twists and turns.

This year has been a tremendous year for change, for challenges, for huge upheaval of my self-image. I lost my husband, friend, and companion of 33 years in January of this year. He was a minister at First Lutheran Church in downtown Toronto. I was very much part of that ministry and worked in many different capacities with him. In April I left a job as a professor of Early Childhood Education. I felt that I needed more than what I was getting out of the job and I was very tired and drained. In June I resigned my position as Superintendent, somewhat like your DLRE, at First Lutheran because the pain of seeing a grieving congregation at the loss of their pastor was too difficult for me. So, all the pillars that gave me identity, a wife, a pastor’s wife, a professor, a Sunday School Superintendent, were gone, shattered. We are identified by what we do. I was doing nothing tangible that you could take a hold of. So during the next few months from July through to September I was struggling to rediscover who I really was, getting in touch with the core of my being, discovering the skills and talents I have. With the help of various professionals and my faith I was able to get in touch with Renate, without all the pillars. It’s almost like a new make over that you see on television these days. I, the person was still there but now I saw myself in a totally new light, discovering that all the pillars that my life had been built on were all right to let go of that I could embrace the new. The pillars were part of my journey that helped me reach the point that I at am today, but they no longer define my existence and who I am.

My love for people and children has brought me here. My creative side for programming and bringing about new learning experiences has brought me here. My own personal faith that is challenging me for new growth has brought me here.