An inspired path of life
Pastor Edgars Ķiploks once wrote that the modern person is reserved toward miracles, and I recently experienced this personally. When I was preparing for an interview with Archbishop Lauma Zušēvica, a book unexpectedly came into my hands, which was supposed to be sent to Latvia on February 6, but that was not done. Then the half-packed box of books had gone astray for a while, but I found it again when the next sending of parcels to Latvia came around. I was glad about the found books, and when the other packers had gone home from the church, I sat down in the fireplace room and thought I would take a look at the found books. My attention was drawn to a book with the title “Come with me!” (published in 1990). In the foreword, E. Ķiploks explained that he had sent letters to all the Ev. Luth. pastors, in the homeland and abroad, who had entered service in the last 60 years, “in order to gather testimonies about how this calling was heard and fulfilled.” Of the 234 letters, E. Ķiploks writes, he received only 73 replies, and these were printed in the aforementioned book. Impatiently I began to leaf through the book, where I saw familiar names: Archbishop A. Lūsis, E. Putniņš, V. Vārsbergs, V. Bitēna, and Lauma Lazdiņš Zušēvics. The book slid down into my lap, I looked around the quiet, dusky church, and there was such a strange feeling. Does the word “coincidence” correctly describe what had happened? Why is it so hard to use the word “miracle”?
In preparing for the interview, I reread Archbishop L. Zušēvica’s testimony several times (it should be mentioned that Archbishop L. Zušēvica was only one of four younger clergy who replied to E. Ķiploks). The testimony that Archbishop L. Zušēvica wrote more than 25 years ago gives an insight into how, from a very early youth, she sensed the power of faith, and what firm foundations she gained from her mother, father, and the church. In her testimony, Archbishop L. Zušēvica writes that already in childhood she began to write down her thoughts, hopes and heartaches, and that these writings became conversations with God, whom already then Archbishop L. Zušēvica designated as “my Comforter, Redeemer, Strengthener, and Inspirer of Love”, and she still uses those same words today. Archbishop L. Zušēvica mentions that it was her mother who taught her to believe from the heart and soul in full trust. Her father was the one who not only taught her, but emphasized that “words are cheap”, and that “belonging to Christ must be realized in daily life and in all of life, not only in church”. It should be mentioned that these words of her father, in my opinion, best characterize that pastor, and now Archbishop, whom I have known and respected for 30 years already. Then, as now, Archbishop L. Zušēvica designates the Bible as her guide for life and “handbook”. If to anyone this designation does not seem dignified enough for the Bible, then it is worth reflecting on how precisely such a designation reminds us that the Bible should be just as important in our life on a Monday morning as on a Sunday morning, when we listen to it reverently. One of Archbishop L. Zušēvica’s favorite sayings is that people whose Bible “falls apart” are [those] people whose lives so often “do not fall apart”.
In her testimony, Archbishop L. Zušēvica tells how in childhood the Cleveland United Congregation became her second home and family. She expressed her gratitude to God for that, as well as for the young congregation pastor I. Gaide, who created “opportunities for her to grow and develop her faith in God and in herself”. Asked what the word “congregation” means to her today, Archbishop L. Zušēvica replied “an extended family”. She aptly mentioned that in a congregation, just as in a family, there are times when people do not understand one another, but with God’s help such misunderstandings can be overcome if we work on them together.
Throughout the whole interview, Archbishop L. Zušēvica’s faith and gratitude to God resounded, and a desire to share this blessing. There was a time when Archbishop L. Zušēvica was not sure whether she, as a woman, would be ordained and allowed to serve in the Latvian church, but then came Archbishop Lūsis’s call to serve. Archbishop L. Zušēvica, in her testimony, mentions that she has not doubted for a moment that Christ would not want her to preach about Him, and she bases this conviction not only on her felt calling, but also on the Bible. It should be mentioned, although Archbishop L. Zušēvica does not speak of it herself, that for her studies she earned a full Danforth scholarship at one of the most distinguished universities in the U.S. (Yale Graduate School), and obtained M.A. and M.Ph. degrees, choosing as her field of specialty the New Testament and the field of early Christian history. In her studies she came to the conclusion that “…one interpretation or movement of thought is soon replaced by others, but the Word of God endures forever!” Already 25 years ago, Archbishop L. Zušēvica expressed the thought that not everyone would agree with her interpretation, but that she has felt from the heart like Peter in declaring “…we cannot but speak about what we have seen and heard” (Acts 4:20). Already 25 years ago, Archbishop L. Zušēvica also realized that people’s minds cannot be changed by any theological arguments, but it can be done with great patience and work. It was precisely by sharing her faith and through unceasing work over the past 30 years in the Milwaukee congregation that Archbishop L. Zušēvica earned the great, enthusiastic support of the congregation for her candidacy as Archbishop.
Today Archbishop L. Zušēvica considers it her duty to foster unity in the church, maintaining relationships and supporting her fellow clergymen and clergywomen. Likewise, there is the hope that, by developing the ELCLAbroad mission fund, there will be an opportunity to provide spiritual support to fellow Latvians who are currently scattered all over Europe – London, Brussels, Dublin, etc. – because the number of these fellow Latvians is in the thousands. Archbishop L. Zušēvica emphasized how important it is to help people discover God’s love, to gain the realization that life with God is much fuller, and that in God’s words there is eternal truth. Just as important is also participation in the upbringing of children and young people. Archbishop L. Zušēvica reminds us that God’s word addresses us in every age and still today, and gives hope that, by repenting of one’s sins, one can begin a new life. Belonging to Christ must be realized in daily life and in all of life, not in church alone.
Since she took up her new office, Archbishop L. Zušēvica has already traveled to Great Britain, Norway and Germany. She went to Norway to take part in the meeting of leaders of the Lutheran World Federation. She says that today one must consider how our church fits into the Lutheran World Federation, where Lutheran churches from all over the world work together. She emphasizes that, by joining forces with this large organization, one can bring blessing to our people and church.
Faith, love and the joy of service characterize our Archbishop L. Zušēvica, and this is best expressed by her own words: “there may be a lack of time and means, but there must not be a lack of willpower”.
Maija Strēlniece