+ Requiescat in Pace + Klemet I. Preus

MEDITATION XVII

BY

John Donne

NUNC LENTO SONITU DICUNT, MORIERIS.

Now this bell tolling softly for another,

says to me, Thou must die.

PERCHANCE he for whom this bell tolls may be so ill as that he knows not it tolls for him.  And perchance I may think myself so much better than I am, as that they who are about me, and see my state, may have caused it to toll for me, and I know not that. The church is catholic, universal, so are all her actions; all that she does, belongs to all.  When she baptizes a child, that action concerns me; for that child is thereby connected to that head which is my head too, and ingrafted into that body, whereof I am a member. And when she buries a man, that action concerns me; all mankind is of one author, and is one volume; when one man dies, one chapter is not torn out of the book, but translated into a better language; and every chapter must be so translated; God employs several translators; some pieces are translated by age, some by sickness, some by war, some by justice; but God’s hand is in every translation, and his hand shall bind up all our scattered leaves again, for that library where every book shall lie open to one another; as therefore the bell that rings to a sermon, calls not upon the preacher only, but upon the congregation to come; so this bell calls us all: but how much more me, who am brought so near the door by this sickness.

There was a contention as far as a suit (in which, piety and dignity, religion and estimation, were mingled) which of the religious orders should ring to prayers first in the morning; and it was determined, that they should ring first that rose earliest. If we understand aright the dignity of this bell, that tolls for our evening prayer, we would be glad to make it ours, by rising early, in that application, that it might be ours as well as his, whose indeed it is. The bell doth toll for him, that thinks it doth; and though it intermit again, yet from that minute, that that occasion wrought upon him, he is united to God. Who casts not up his eye to the sun when it rises? But who takes off his eye from a comet, when that breaks out? who bends not his ear to any bell, which upon any occasion rings? But who can remove it from that bell, which is passing a piece of himself out of this world?

No man is an island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main; if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as well as if a manor of thy friend’s or of thine own were; any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in mankind, and therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.

Neither can we call this a begging of misery, or a borrowing of misery, as though we were not miserable enough of ourselves, but must fetch in more from the next house, in taking upon us the misery of our neighbors. Truly it were an excusable covetousness if we did; for affliction is a treasure, and scarce any man hath enough of it. No man hath afflicion enough, that is not matured and ripened by it, and made fit for God by that affliction. If a man carry treasure in bullion or in a wedge of gold, and have none coined into current moneys, his treasure will not defray him as he travels. Tribulation is treasure in the nature of it, but it is not current money in the use of it, except we get nearer and nearer our home, heaven, by it. Another may be sick too, and sick to death, and this affliction may lie in his bowels, as gold in a mine, and be of no use to him; but this bell that tells me of his affliction, digs out, and applies that gold to me: if by this consideration of another’s danger, I take mine own into contemplation, and so secure myself, by making my recourse to my God, who is our only security.

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Obituary from the Minneapolis Star-Tribune:

Klemet was born June 13, 1950 in Minneapolis, MN, the son of Robert D. and Donna Mae (Rockman) Preus. Klemet was a joyful theologian his entire life. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne IN, in 1972, followed by Master of Divinity (MDIV) and Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degrees from Concordia Theological Seminary, Fort Wayne, IN, in 1976 and 1979, respectively. In 1977, Klemet was ordained as a pastor in the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod and served congregations, in Ypsilanti, MI, Grand Forks, ND, Woodland, CA, Danville, CA and most recently, Glory of Christ Lutheran Church in Plymouth, MN (1999-2014). Klemet served as President of Higher Things Inc. from 2001-2009. He also served in numerous boards and offices, most recently on the Board of Directors for the Minnesota South District of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod, and the Board of Regents for Concordia University, Wisconsin.

Pastor Preus authored two books. The Fire and the Staff provides a Lutheran account of the purpose and value of worship in the daily life of Christians; Klemet contrasts the comfort and power of traditional Lutheran worship with contemporary trends. What They Need to Hear is an intimate collection of letters written to Klemet’s dying father-in-law, which shows the comfort of Christian truth by answering modern challenges in an honest and compelling way. Klemet also wrote many articles in Lutheran journals and magazines. He had become a popular speaker at conferences for pastors and laypeople alike. Audiences continually appreciated Klemet’s ability to convey difficult concepts in clear and simple language with a trademark wit and humor.

Klemet loved the Northwoods of Minnesota where he enjoyed a cabin on Gunflint Lake. He was an avid hiker, enjoyed cross-country skiing and snow-shoeing as well. He was an outstanding chef, whose delightful meals will be sorely missed by family and friends. Klemet is survived by his wife, “the love of my life,” Janet, his mother, Donna, his four children, Klemet, Rachel (Rob) Mattern, Katrina (Phil) Caron and Eve, nine brothers and sisters and 46 nieces and nephews. Above all, Pastor Klemet Preus took great joy in serving Christ’s Church, where he richly and daily announced forgiveness and life, given by grace, through faith in Christ alone, and not because of ourselves. Confidence in the Lord Jesus poured from Klemet’s heart and pen to the last.

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