Man finds he has been touched by Holy Spirit many times
By DANIEL F. DeLONG
Globe editor
Posted May 16, 2002

You can see it in his eyes when Larry Muckle talks about things like commitment. They light up brightly.

Muckle, a 38-year-old father of three, was recently confirmed in the Catholic church at St. Boniface in Sioux City, an act that allowed him to complete a mission that he has been contemplating for a long time. The former Presbyterian who was born in St. Louis said he has been attending Mass irregularly since he was 12, including St. Boniface. "I really had a sense of commune," explained Muckle, referring to one of God's gifts, the sacrament of Communion. "It was truly special." The new Catholic said the spiritual education he has received leading up to confirmation was compelling.

"I now have answers to questions when I didn't even have the questions before," he said.

For a long time Muckle had been chasing after both questions and answers. Usually his quest would go unfilled and that led him to take a walk on the wild side of life more than once.

"I don't mind saying that I did some dumb things," he recalled. One of the most dangerous happened after his family moved to Dexter, Iowa, about a half hour outside of Des Moines. Muckle decided to tempt fate. He dove off a 100-foot bridge into shallow water and broke his kneecap. As he reasoned later, it could have been worse. He attributes his survival to divine intervention.

"I've always had a feeling that God was watching over me," Muckle explained. "It isn't anything that I've done, but I know that there is something helping me."

More specifically, he thinks that his deceased grandparents on his mother's side have probably been watching over him. "We were extremely close," he said, "and I've felt their spirit in my life."

There were a number of socially awkward incidents like the bridge jump during his earlier years, and these actions continued to gnaw at him. He even suffered through a bout of clinical depression. After all, this was a man who needed desperately to be committed to something positive. Anything short of total dedication would probably lead to boredom and more problems.

His forward journey began as the children - 16-year-old twins Brandon and Jared and daughter Danielle, 18 - started to grow, and he decided to immerse himself in their activities.

His passion for youth activities (he was a linebacker in his playing days) led him to a number of successes in the community, which was started by coaching youth football teams.

While doing this, Muckle discovered that the Sioux City parks and recreation department could do a much better job. So three years ago he organized the Youth Sports Coalition and more than doubled youth participation in some sports.

"Before that, the park and rec association was a dot on the city brochure, so there was a real need," he said.

His powerful personality and ability to organize community activities led to an appointment to the IBP Events Center Committee.

"At first I wasn't too thrilled with the IBP name on it," Muckle said, saying that he questioned some of the company's labor methods. "But the project is for the overall good of Sioux City, so I got on board." It is this kind of drive and commitment that Muckle thinks will one day soon propel him into politics, perhaps running from Sioux City's west side as a Democrat for a seat in the Iowa legislature.

Despite his commitments to job, family and civic activities, Muckle figured that he was still missing something.

Divine intervention struck again when he ran into Father Marvin Boes, the former pastor at St. Boniface. Muckle could not resist any longer and asked the retired priest how he could become a Catholic. Father Boes gave him a phone number and he discussed the journey in faith with his wife Teresa. She was pleased that he made the decision to act.

"I called Bonita Williams and the following Sunday I was enrolled in RCIA, and learning as quickly as I could," he said. After his studies were complete, Muckle was asked what kind of Catholic would he like to become.

"It's still too early," he said. "Let me get involved with my religion. I'm sure there will be a place for me to do some good." Eyes still burning bright, Muckle is looking for a project that will involve more commitment.