Went to a funeral today. Brought back memories.
My friend Steve lost his father a week ago (thereabouts). The funeral service was today.
I found the funeral service to be really nice. I've never met the pastor, but he seemed to be a guy full of love, and also dedicated to spreading the love of Jesus to anyone who would listen.
But he understood this service was not about Jesus - it was about a guy who lived his life fully. A guy who raced cars in the 1950's. A guy who raced motorcycles. A guy who ran a small business (painting houses), and had to compete with all the other guys trying the same thing. A guy who took on body-building in the 1980's (which was a very competitive time in the body building field) and threw his all into it. A guy who loved camping and fishing and skiing and hunting.
And a guy who loved his children.
His son is a friend of mine. Steve.
He and his son went on a hunting trip to Idaho two years ago. Now mind you, the difference between his age and his son's age is almost as great as my age. And I'm 50+ years old. But he was glad that his son wanted to come along on the hunting trip with him and his old buddies. These old guys have a culture of worth, effort, work ethic, skill, and pride-for-being-able-to-overcome-hard-problems that is truly admirable. So when my friend was invited along, he earned the camaraderie of guys who EARNED for their money. These guys worked hard. These guys worked quality. They made their customer happy with their work (and earned their subsequent pay). The kid coming along was fun. Someone to regale stories to.
Heh.
The hunting party (including my friend) scoured the land.
Results!
My friend Steve took careful aim, and GOT A BUCK, from a _really_ long way out.
Huzzah!
Food for the family!
Well, OK, my (single, at the moment) friend Steve will get to keep all the meat. But still, he hunted it. He earned it.
The fact that he got to spend this time with his father, is worth more than the world. His dad was proud of his son.
Today, Steve's father was put in the ground.
But I think that my friend Steve's father would be proud of his son.
I hope my father would be proud of me, for the work I have done.
Love you, Dad!
I found the funeral service to be really nice. I've never met the pastor, but he seemed to be a guy full of love, and also dedicated to spreading the love of Jesus to anyone who would listen.
But he understood this service was not about Jesus - it was about a guy who lived his life fully. A guy who raced cars in the 1950's. A guy who raced motorcycles. A guy who ran a small business (painting houses), and had to compete with all the other guys trying the same thing. A guy who took on body-building in the 1980's (which was a very competitive time in the body building field) and threw his all into it. A guy who loved camping and fishing and skiing and hunting.
And a guy who loved his children.
His son is a friend of mine. Steve.
He and his son went on a hunting trip to Idaho two years ago. Now mind you, the difference between his age and his son's age is almost as great as my age. And I'm 50+ years old. But he was glad that his son wanted to come along on the hunting trip with him and his old buddies. These old guys have a culture of worth, effort, work ethic, skill, and pride-for-being-able-to-overcome-hard-problems that is truly admirable. So when my friend was invited along, he earned the camaraderie of guys who EARNED for their money. These guys worked hard. These guys worked quality. They made their customer happy with their work (and earned their subsequent pay). The kid coming along was fun. Someone to regale stories to.
Heh.
The hunting party (including my friend) scoured the land.
Results!
My friend Steve took careful aim, and GOT A BUCK, from a _really_ long way out.
Huzzah!
Food for the family!
Well, OK, my (single, at the moment) friend Steve will get to keep all the meat. But still, he hunted it. He earned it.
The fact that he got to spend this time with his father, is worth more than the world. His dad was proud of his son.
Today, Steve's father was put in the ground.
But I think that my friend Steve's father would be proud of his son.
I hope my father would be proud of me, for the work I have done.
Love you, Dad!