Looking For Daddy

We've spent the last three Sundays sharing our favorite passage from the first 22 pages of the book “Bond of Brothers” by Wes Yoder. Those of you who are regulars, know that we have young men from the ages of 12 through seventy in our group. Now that everyone has shared what ministered to them, I can finally summarize what I've heard from all of you. What I've heard from each and every one of you, is the heart of a child longing for their father. Whether you had, or have an excellent relationship with your father, there is always a desire for a deeper relationship. There is a desire for the mysteries of life to be revealed from the heart of all wisdom and knowledge. Isn't this the same man who could explain why it rains, and where the water goes after it rains? Isn't this the same man who could pilot two tons of steel through busy streets and find his way home after driving hundreds of miles? Isn't this the same man who could read that big huge thing called a newspaper? Isn't this the same man who could open jars your little hands couldn't even grasp?

What does this man know, that I need to know? How did he get past the bully in school who threatened to beat him up every day? How did he handle the shame of making stupid remarks in school that everybody laughed at? How did he survive the anguish of loving a little girl who wouldn't even give him the time of day? How did he navigate the rough waters of life and survive?

Whether the reason we don't share is rooted in our shame, or whether it's rooted in learned silence, it is time for the silence to be broken. A boy's first, and last, best friend should be his father. Within men who proclaim to be Christians, this should be the norm, not the exception. Our lives shouldn't be the sum of our fears, the collection of masks we wear, nor should it be the illusions we work to maintain. As Christian men, the first person we should learn the love of the Father from, is our earthly father. The foundations of our lives must be laid by the same man who paints our world with faith and hope. I heard these hopes and desires over the last three weeks. There is always another level of relationship between fathers and sons. Fathers have the power to lay out the marks for our sons to follow in the race of life. Sadly, we often leave our sons with the markers of silence, shame, and fear. Our failures, though obvious, are brushed aside in order to hold out the illusion that we have it all together. This leaves our sons to live out a life doomed to failure, when we should be leaving them a Spiritual legacy. If we are to leave a spiritual legacy for our sons, it must be based on the love and devotion of a Spirit led father. Over the last three weeks, I've heard the little boy in all of us yearning to be more than we are, to be like our daddy.

I will be out of town next week and Bro. Colby will be teaching the class. In preparation for him stepping into the teacher position, I've asked everyone to read to the end of chapter one. I've also assigned a homework assignment: I want all of our men to look at the lives of Abraham, Eli, and David. I want you to identify what strengths these man failed to leave their sons.