After I announced the theme of the 5th Annual Lefse Limerick Contest in January, I said to myself, “Uh-oh.” The theme was as shown on the t-shirt below, which will be awarded to the three winners shown above:
This contest could be a bust, I fretted back then, because faith is personal and not really a subject that lends itself to the levity of a limerick. And what does faith have to do with lefse anyway? I feared that the limerick writers who had shined in the previous four Lefse Limerick Contests would take a pass at this contest, perhaps thinking the topic was too heavy for a lefse limerick.
But a voice inside my head said, “Oh, ye of little faith! Lefse limerick writers are up for this! In fact, they’ll be inspired by the topic!” And that voice was right on.
The inherent humor of a limerick was present with the submissions, but also there was room in most of the limericks for faith and its power. I was touched by a comment by one of the limerick writers who expressed gratitude for the opportunity to write about faith in a lefse limerick, of all things. The writer said, “It’s been a tough year since the last contest, and the theme really hit home. It was a joy to do and [I was] truly inspired.”
With that said, I am especially proud to present the 5th Annual Lefse Limerick Contest’s winning limericks.
First Place Winners
Kristen Anderson, unlike most other writers who submitted pages of limericks, wrote just one. It was one of the first limericks submitted, and it told me that this 5th Annual Lefse Limerick Contest was going to be special. She introduced the idea that lefse could play a part, however small, in bringing unity back to our people — an idea that came out in other limericks as well.
When I look to my left and my right I sure worry about our world’s plight So let’s peel some potatoes Become lefse amigos I have faith in the things that unite. —— Kristen Anderson, Big Fork, Minnesota
Pete Holbrook got into the zone when writing about faith and lefse, and he could not escape. He churned out a dozen, all titled, and any one of them could have won top honors. I’ll give you two.
CUTTING THE MUSTARD A mountain will move, says the creed, With faith, small as one mustard seed. So I pray as I flip That the lefse won’t slip And spoil some Lutheran’s feed. —— Pete Holbrook, Minneapolis
And this one, truly a gut puncher!
NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED Our deacon was thin as a wraith So we sent him a meal, in good faith But he broke his front tooth On the lefse, forsooth, Now he lisps ev’ry time he says graith. —— Pete Holbrook, Minneapolis
Dave Nadaskay submitted 14 limericks, all of them hitting the unity nail on the head. Here are three:
If we take but a moment to share Both our faith and our lefse, we’d dare To make hatred a relic And all people angelic And bring love (and some butter) to bear. —— Dave Nadaskay, Fort Worth, Texas
If your life is needing a boost Give your spirit a new place to roost. Rolling lefse together In prayer you can weather Any storm that the world has unloosed. —— Dave Nadaskay, Fort Worth, Texas
It’s said lefse can make friends of foes And mend broken spirits and woes But without faith in heaven Our poor rounds unleavened Can’t lift e’en the lowest of lows. —— Dave Nadaskay, Fort Worth, Texas
Second Place
John Ofstehage has a sense of humor (see above photo), and in his 14 submissions he showed how to use that humor regarding faith and lefse. Two examples:
AN EXTRAORDINARY UNEXPLAINED EVENT It was a miracle for sure. Devine intervention had occurred. For the first time ever, My lefse wasn’t leather! My faith in prayer is reassured. —— John Ofstehage, Greenwood, Minnesota
DOES THE THIRD COMMANDMENT APPLY? How can I go to church today? For I have sinned in an awful way I committed blasphemy, Having the audacity To profane lefse! Let us pray. —— John Ofstehage, Greenwood, Minnesota
For taking second place, John wins the hat below.
Third Place
Susan Jerde wrote five lefse limericks, and four of them were about having faith regarding your lefse. But she was the only writer to go against the grain and create a limerick about having no faith in a particular lefse maker.
A grouchy old grandma named Cher Had no faith in the family’s heir. He rolled lefse all wrong, And grilled it too long. So she gave him a dunce hat to wear. —— Susan Jerde, Aberdeen, South Dakota
On a positive note, there is this one about the big payoff for a young lefse maker named Faith.
A young girl with Faith as a name Made lefse that brought her much fame She collected some cash Found a Norse hunk named Nash, And that Faith girl was never the same. —— Susan Jerde, Aberdeen, South Dakota
For winning third place, Susan gets the tote bag that you carry, with a message that can carry you through your days.
Thanks to all the lefse limerick writers who entered the 5th Annual Lefse Limerick Contest. I have faith that we will do it again next year. Keep on rolling!