God’s Love Wins
I was in the middle of a discussion Rob Bell’s book called Love Wins when the news came through that something tragic happened. Without knowing the full details, I briefly excused myself from the discussion to learn more.
Yet, the conversation continued. The book is Bell’s understanding of how God’s love is an invitation to each of us and we are all able to choose love.
It’s a provocative book that pushed the bounds of traditional doctrine when it was published in 2011. At our book clubs at Faith Lutheran, often it’s the conversation and grappling with the questions that allows for safe discussion. We don’t universally agree, and we love that.
Those were the discussions that tended to happen with Jeanette Hahn.
But on Friday, October 11th, Jeanette was not part of our conversation.
Jeanette loved to talk about God on a deeper level. She came up to me recently with a plea: when leading the Lord’s Prayer, slow down a little bit! I found out that she also asked our music director, Linda Burk, if she could slow the tempo of the hymns because she wanted to hang on each word.
Jeanette didn’t want to rush through her faith. She took the questions seriously. I’d get frequent emails with a link to Richard Rohr’s latest devotion, and we’d talk about spirituality and God’s ever-present love throughout the world. Jeanette believed in love over hate.
Richard and Jeanette Hahn meant a lot to our community through music. However, their impact could also be felt in their hospitality and how they cared for others. Both were leaders here at Faith Lutheran and they employed a servant mindset.
That’s why the shock of their death hits so hard. Their family noted the silver lining because they died together, they don’t have to grieve each other. The grieving is for us to do. That grief isn’t easy.
One member who has worked closely with Jeanette in our homeless ministry outreach reached out to me.
What she wrote might resonate with others who knew the Hahn’s or are grieving a tragedy in your own life from someone dying or receiving a cancer diagnosis.
I’m sorry I’m really struggling with this. Jeanette was the sweetest, most loving, giving, person. She did so much for the community. She did so much for her family. She was an advocate. She cooked meals and brought people together. She loved her neighbor no matter what. And this? This is how [their lives] end?
The question of why is so hard for us to comprehend.
In my response, I told her that I fully acknowledged her feelings. Much theological angst has been cultivated around why do bad things happen to good people. When there's no “why”, humanity has always looked for answers.
Lacking good answers, we tend to blame God. Anger at God is a way to direct our sadness and grief. But God is big enough to take it. Complex feelings toward God don’t demonstrate a lack of faith or belief. In fact, it’s a discussion that Jeanette loved to participate in. She loved to explore what God would have us do in these moments.
Since their tragic death, there has been an outpouring of love and support. For the Hahn’s children, Markus and Laurie and their families, they have embraced the divine presence in this moment.
God is very present and part of our collective grief.
As we gather to remember the Hahn’s this weekend, you will notice something powerful.
The community will gather to support one another in our grief. Richard and Jeanette Hahn, servants of God, will be remembered for what they’ve done. They will also be lifted up for the hope that endures. Heaven will be proclaimed. In our mourning, we know that they are at peace. God’s love wins.
Pastor John Klawiter is the senior pastor of Faith Lutheran Church, an ELCA congregation in Forest Lake. For more information, email him at
Login To Leave Comment