Merry Christmas Dad

Been thinking of him and on him for some days now. The heart and mind wanders… Oh were it possible to enjoy the crushing joy and deep satisfaction of one of his bear hugs with his strong arms that you knew could always be relied upon to help? But… it isn’t any more possible to have that than his sincere and welcoming smile. Or is it?

We lost him on Christmas and in some ways this was fitting because he is forever connected to a day and a season that his life and character so closely embodied. He really was a spirit of Christmas… gracious, kind, charitable. Yet also not a push over… not beyond granting a lump of coal when warranted! But one could be assured that the coal was not mean spirited but given with the sincere hope that it might lead to changing behavior and the life of the other for the better.

So Christmas brings us back to him with a tinge of sorrow and regret of course but also with recognition of the spirit of him that lives on in the celebrating of these principles with others in this season. Which is also for me a reminder that often what we most admire in others is something at the core of humanity – our common humanity expressed in finer or more consistent form. So with this in mind, I find my self confident and comforted in knowing that I will find in others aspects of what I miss most in my Father. I will find it now and in the future as I have in the past.. and I will find it next door, around the corner, across this Nation and around the World. That promise of encountering the best of our common humanity does nothing to diminish the memory and legacy of our dear Father. It only serves to remind us that he listened and learned well and attended to the deeper voices of his heart and soul. And borrowing those lessons in earnest for his time and in turn gifting those lessons to the hearts of others, as the human story has unfolded for countless lives throughout the world this common humanity moves forward with all of us life by life. It also connects us all as a family.

Becky was so kind as to gift me one of Dad’s guitar picks this Christmas and I was reminded of all the songs he shared with us over the years. And the music. I enjoyed learning the music that was dear to him and trying to learn what it said about him. And I recall one summer when I was a boy walking down unfamiliar streets hot blacktop on my feet… winding our way this way and that, but confident he was certain in his bearings. He led us kids to a big circus tent and inside Harry Chapin was on a stage smiling, joking, plucking at his guitar a bit and warming up the crowd. He sang a song that resonated with me and the difficulty of being away from Dad, but the comfort in knowing that I would always be with him again in someway or another. And now I also think about this song and how it relates to being wrapped up in the love of that common humanity also…

This video has a bit of a song that introduces the song that I recalled which is "All My Life is a Circle"

What a Beautiful Day

All is well hear Dad hope the same for you and yours

Wish you were here...