Our dear friend and sister in the Lord Colleen Moeller passed away August 2nd. You all may know Colleen as the editor of our magazine, The Alliant. She has been battling cancer for almost 3 years. During that time she exalted the Lord and continued to serve home educators in our state with her beautiful gifts of writing and encouragement. Her husband Dick is our treasurer and together they have ministered with ICHE for years. We are grieving our loss but rejoicing that our dear friend is no longer suffering, but is resting in the arms of our loving Savior. Please hold her family up in your prayers.
This beautiful tribute was shared this year in Naperville with Colleen and her family at the 2008 ICHE State Convention.
Words & Life
In honor of Colleen Moeller.
Words are funny things. We scatter them carelessly like worthless commodities and bequeath them like treasured gems of our most private and profound thoughts. They spark uncontainable infernos, balm wounds, and paint masterpieces on the canvas of our imaginations. They form a scaffold vital to our intellects, give expression to our souls, and make possible a communion of our spirits.
Every year I have trekked this earth-bound trail, I have grown in my appreciation for the value of words, but still more, for the skills and talents of those who respect their worth and wield them well. Being an avid reader of, and of late, occasional contributor to the ICHE Alliant, it is clear that our Editor, Colleen Moeller, has distinguished herself as a wordsmith of uncommon stature.
Producing a quarterly publication of any size requires skills in many areas: research, layout and design, business and finance, copyright law, and others. It necessitates exceptional organizational and interpersonal abilities along with an unswerving commitment to high standards. But in a publication like the Alliant, perhaps the most critical qualities are in having a clear vision of its eternal purpose and in being able to communicate that vision to subscribers. In all of these, Colleen truly excels.
As editor, she prayerfully chooses the theme for each issue of the magazine, sifts through mountains of words and images, locates the highest-grade ores, refines them from the dross, and lovingly assembles each piece into a beautiful and valued word-mosaic of the Christian family that truly reflects the likeness of Jesus Christ to our world.
If you know Colleen at all, you will heartily agree that she possesses an uncompromising but truly humble professionalism, an ability to always see and cultivate the best in others, and a devotion to putting others’ needs before her own. Having contributed a few articles for her editorial consideration, I can also attest to her rare abilities to encourage and reassure, even through gentle and loving correction.
But I would submit that there is one other quality she displays that merits a higher honor. Her craftsmanship in words – even in such momentous words as “Christian family” – would be much less esteemed were her work not aptly and beautifully illustrated by her life. The Alliant’s rightfully deserved accolades are perhaps due less to the skills she applies to each issue than to the life she lives. Through towering joys and heart-rending trials, Colleen is one of whom we can say that word matches deed. Without question, that results from her intimate knowledge of the Living Word and her daily walk with Him.
Colleen, it is unfortunately with mere words, but with sincere and grateful hearts, that we say “thank you” for birthing, nurturing, and growing the Alliant into the blessing that it has become to thousands of families over these many years. We honor you for this vital work that will bear fruit into eternity. We love you not merely for what you have done, but more deeply for who you are. ——————————
For those who might like to support the Moellers financially, a benefit fund has been established.
Colleen Moeller/Moeller Family Benefit Fund
Wells Fargo Bank
121 West First Street
Geneseo, IL 61254
