To pick one day as most memorable is against my religion; for I hold a belief in the connectedness of life's journey for all. Let me explain. To pick, for instance, my wedding day over the night my daughter survived a life threatening attack is impossible because they are part of the same reality, part of what it means to be family, our family. To pick my election and installation as president of the National Council of Churches over the 35W bridge-collapse memorial service, which the Minnesota Council of Churches was asked pull together, would be impossible; both involve civic leadership. Even the attack of 9/11 with more than 3000 killed can't be separated from the war in Iraq in which somewhere around a hundred thousand civilians have been killed. All those dates relate to all parts of my life and, while it is important to lift up many special dates in this last decade, we must recognize those dates are representative of broader celebrations and broader difficulties in our shared life and in our private life and that those two lives cannot be disconnected to each other.

My decade started with a long medical leave from my work at the Minnesota Council of Churches in late 2000, in order to have a heart valve replaced. First, I was very fortunate to have doctors from the Minneapolis Heart Institute who were very experienced in doing this. Second, I had insurance that covered the almost $100,000 cost. Finally, I had family and friends to walk thorough this with me. Now we are ending our decade with the possibility of more than 30,000,000 un-insured having the same chance I had to get the medical care they need.

At the time of my open-heart surgery one of the bishops, with whom I worked, said to me that his father had the same diagnosis (stenosis of the aortic valve). His father hadn't had the surgery and two years later he was dead. So, ten years later, I am still here, and grateful everyday. Maybe it's this daily experience of gratitude, maybe the inclusivity of my faith, but for whatever reason I stand with those who believe that health care, in this great country should not be withheld because of inability to pay. Extraordinary health care exists within arm's reach of each of us. I hope we end the decade with that access for everyone. It is a life or death issue for many. Now that would be an accomplishment to be celebrated for a decade to come.