| 99 - article by Joel Hempel
Suppose I told you I could introduce you to someone who handled millions of dollars in diamonds, and hobnobbed with baseball greats like Stan Musial, Joe DiMaggio, and Micky Mantle. Would you be interested in meeting him? If so, look around on Sunday morning and say “Hello” to Al Grimm. As you may remember, Al began his 100th year with us last Wednesday, April 26th. “I feel pretty good,” he told me. “I have some challenges in my back and lower extremities, but I work out and keep myself as strong as possible. And my mental acuity is reasonably good.” Talking with Al, you soon realize you are dealing with a man who is rich in history, fluent in conversation, loved by his family, and solid in his faith. Born in 1924, Al experienced hard times during the Depression. “Although my father lost his job, our family got by because dad was an entertainer. He played every musical instrument by ear and had an outstanding singing voice. So, whatever engagement he could find, he took.” But it wasn’t all bad in those early years. Al can remember his Uncle Charlie Grimm bringing the entire Chicago Cubs Baseball team to his house when they were in town. “Uncle Charlie first played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and later for the Cubs. Then, in 1932 he became the Cubs manager. Check out his stats. He should be in the Hall of Fame.” Reflecting on his early years, Al shifted from reporting the facts to becoming introspective when I asked him about his relationship with his parents. Although his mother was loving and protective, his father was mostly gone from the house. But, when he came home, too often he was emotionally abusive. “During much of my life, I felt guilty because of my love-hate relationship with my father. As a result, I feared God and thought he was punishing me for not being more forgiving.” The battle within us between our deeply rooted feelings from the past and our everyday experiences of success or struggle is generally hidden from most of the world. So it was with Al. Our friend interacted with famous athletes in his job with Rawlings Sporting Goods, experienced success as an owner of eight Wehmueller Jewelry Stores, had a loving wife and wonderful children (Jennifer and Doug), was involved in various civil and church organizations, and yet he remained conflicted and burdened. What changed him? What caused the shift from battling depression to being at peace? In a word, Betty! Betty, Al’s incredible wife of 40 years, introduced him to the love of God. It took a lifetime of growing in faith as a result of being surrounded by mature Christians, faithfully worshipping with his family, and singing in church choirs, but finally, it clicked: Satan is a liar! The Evil One is the tormentor. Not God. The hymn, Amazing Grace is Al’s favorite for good reason. The Spirit of Christ surrounded him with the grace of God, and ever so slowly but with absolute certainty, the love of Jesus found its way into Al’s heart: You are loved, Al. You are forgiven. You are God’s son, now and into eternity. Thank you, Al, for sharing a small part of your journey. | 
