Happy Fathers Day, everyone. For us, it means some needed time at home and an opportunity to give thanks for all the different people in our lives. We have had a great time traveling as a family since school got out, so despite the clutter at home, we are spending time with special people in our lives.
I am enjoying a day off the campaign trail to get spoiled as a Dad. My kids are actually cleaning their rooms as I write this! I don't blame them for all the clutter that has accumulated. We've been traveling around southern Idaho as a family since school got out and we've all left thing at home "as is." We enjoyed a wonderful sermon at church today on the importance of planting good things in our lives, our families and our communities. (It was Sean's first sermon as he prepares to answer the call for possible training as a priest.)
Part of our weekly service is to give thanks for birthdays and anniversaries (congratulations, Scott, on 50 years!) and for other blessings in our lives. My son, Harrison, surprised us when he went forward on his own to give thanks for his Dad. My wife, Joan, and I both started to get watery eyes. Harrison's spontaneous blessing prompted Father David to give thanks to all Dads. My daughter, Sammy, is getting to be a good singer (no fatherly bias there) and I enjoyed singing next to her. She gets embarrassed if I sing in any other public place. Today, we also gave thanks to John Bostrom, our music director of 5 years who leaves for North Carolina this week to further his education. His music helped us all connect the words and lessons we hear each week with our hearts, inspiring us to put them into action. We'll miss him but know the music is always there.
Joanie's godparents, Samuel and Jan Adams, are due to arrive today to stay with us for a few days. They have been serving as interim pastors in a Presbyterian Church in Colorado and have answered the call to serve one more assignment before they retire. They are heading to Fairbanks, Alaska. The miracle of internet communications and cell phones have kept them close to us for many years and now, as they head to a land we have yet to visit, we will be with them. While in Idaho, they want to join all the volunteers on the campaign and go door-to-door. We were so touched when they said this is a priority for their vacation this year: to help us change the world one person at a time!
Happy Fathers Day, everyone, whether you are a father or not. It is a good time to reflect and share the special connections we have with
other people. It reminds us that when we work together, despite and because we are different, we can keep making the world a better place for our kids and for their kids and for many generations to come.