Slipping into Eternity

Last week my father breathed his last breath and entered into eternity with God at his side. He lived a good life and I am very thankful for having the gift of a good father who loved me.  Because of him I can better love my own children.  My dad wasn't a big talker, but his way of leading was by example. I remember celebrating his 80th birthday by renting a big dining room and inviting all his friends. We gave people the opportunity to come forward and share how they appreciated dad.  I was amazed at how much of a servant his life was to others.  What seems to be praised and admired these days is those who aggressively seize life and conquer the world around them in whatever their field.  But there are other heroes that are quietly serving and caring and giving of their lives for others.  This was my dad.  He didn't have much in the way of  hobbies or outside interests. He was a great gardener and loved to give away his produce!  This was actually a deep joy for him!    He wasn't really into technology and constantly checking his smart phone.  When I was with him I always had his total attention. And if you had a need,  if you were stuck, or if you just needed someone to  be there for you, well, my dad was there.   He defined and was the epitome of faithfulness.

He was also very generous, kind, gentle, patient and thankful-my dad never complained.  He never seemed to have a harsh word toward us kids that me or my two sisters could remember.  Is that even possible?  He would be the first to point me to God as his source of any goodness he had.

But above all these other things the faithfulness of my dad seems to stand out. He was married to my mom for over 60 years!   I've thought much about my dad in the last couple weeks.   I thought of the many days he drove me to school as a youth, as a teenager in high school and even a college student. He was never too busy that he couldn't drive me, and usually take me out for coffee or a meal in the process!  And on those drives of 2 miles to high school or 80 miles to college, he caught up with me. He used his service to me as a way to also spend quality time together.  This usually came in the form of some well placed questions and a lot of listening to my responses.  Many years later my mom would describe to me how my dad would wake up from his afternoon nap and ask her "where's Phil?" She would remind him that I was with my family in the Northwest.  I was always on his mind even toward the end of his life.

My dad's faithfulness to me seems very contrasted with our current state in this world.  How many people stand by each other anymore?  How many married couples stay together?  How many dads are there for their children however imperfectly this might be? Our world so desperately needs fathers like mine, who are faithful to the end.  Who reflect Jesus to a world mad with power, vengeance, betrayal, violence and death.  The fruit of Jesus' life was serving, healing, restoring and giving his life so that others could have life and live if to the full.  This is the fruit of a life well lived.

2 “But for you who fear my name, the Sun of Righteousness will rise with healing in his wings. And you will go free, leaping with joy. . . . .5 “Look, I am sending you the prophet Elijah before the great and dreadful day of the Lord arrives. 6 His preaching will turn the hearts of fathers to their children, and the hearts of children to their fathers. Otherwise I will come and strike the land with a curse.”     From the book of Malachi about a captive people