A grad gone bad

We all model our lives on stories we’ve heard and the people who exist in those stories. There are, of course, the biblical accounts of God’s people and Jesus. But there are also stories closer to home. The stories of our parents, grandparents, or people we hear about often make a profound impact on who we are and what we work at becoming.

This series looks at some of those stories as told by people within our Canadian Mennonite Brethren church family.

Merv Boschman

High school graduation in Linden, Alta. ended in a nightmare for Merv Boschman. It was April 1, 1966, the morning after the ceremony and a party. Merv and several friends went to shoot gophers. One of them noted it would be fun to float down the Kneehill Creek in an old rowboat.

Water levels were high from spring runoff but Merv, Edric, and Verdon thought the swollen creek would be easily navigable. They soon realized the rowboat was uncontrollable in the swiftly moving water and, after only a short distance, the boat capsized.

Verdon and Merv barely made it to shore. Edric, not a swimmer, was in serious trouble. He clung to the capsized boat as Verdon and Merv ran along the shore, yelling at him to hang on. Instinct told Merv to go in after him but as soon as he dove in, he realized this could be a mistake. The frigid water numbed him.

Merv got within four or five feet of Edric, their eyes met, and Edric went under. Merv realized he couldn’t reach him. Edric came up once more, then went down. His body was never found.

The drowning had a huge impact on the Linden community. Though Edric’s parents were gracious, Merv fell into despondency. Why had they taken the boat into the cold, swift water? Why hadn’t he been able to rescue his friend? He didn’t want to go anywhere or see anyone.

Sam Ratzlaff

After several days, one of the older saints of the local Mennonite Brethren church asked if he could visit Merv. Sam Ratzlaff came into Merv’s bedroom and briefly communicated three things.

He told the teen that he and the community loved him. He shared a verse, Deuteronomy 29:29: “The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but the things revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may follow all of the words of this law.” He prayed with him and left.

For Merv, the older man’s message was crystal clear. There aren’t always answers. We live in “the already and the not yet.” The next day, says Merv, he could look at people and move ahead with his life. He could trust God even without an answer for the tragedy.

Sam Ratzlaff’s visit and verse have anchored Merv and his ministry ever since. Currently serving as executive minister of the Alberta MB Conference, he knows that God is always faithful, even when we don’t understand.

Ken Reddig is director of the Centre for MB Studies, Winnipeg.