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June 15, 2008
:: Father's Day Reflection
On this Father's Day - my first as a father - I have several things on my mind. They all connect to the overall theme of fatherhood, which is celebrated today. Here it goes:
1. Floods, tornadoes, and the fathers and sons of the midwestern US.
Being an Eagle Scout, I intently watched the coverage this week of the tornado disaster at Little Sioux Scout Ranch in Iowa. My fatherly instincts swelled within when I watched the scout leaders and parents look upon their boys - truly young men - describing how they trained for a tornado warning just hours before the storm struck camp. They looked so in awe of their kids. Then as the kids recounted horrific scenes of mayhem post-twister, and how they sprung into action, "just like we learned" administrating first aid and stabilizing the situation, the parent's faces showed pure love, pride, and joy. Some were grinning slightly, several had tears welled up in their weary eyes.
Meanwhile, I watched parents across the midwest flood plains deal with a nearly-insurmountable situation...saving their families from the tragedy of flooding. They talked of their children, who are scared and confused. They don't want to go out and play, in fear of a levee break or a tornado. Fathers being interviewed about how their sons are not tending fields or going to summer semester at college because they are on a work crew to fill sandbags. Again, the emotions - pride, joy, anguish, fear...hope. This Father's Day, I am thinking about the challenges we face to prepare our kids for natural disasters and civil emergencies, and the reward we receive when our children respond in a way that saves not only their own lives, but the lives of others.
2. Fathers with sons in the military, deployed to war
My cousin is a Marine. He showed extreme skill as a marksman during training - and he is trained to kill, and has the expertise the military needs to fight our wars in Iraq and Afganistan. Due to his talent, he is on the "tip of the spear"...he sits up front on his vehicle as they patrol, gun at the ready...and the first to possibly take the hit from an insurgent attack. He serves bravely for our country. His father, and his extended family, would very much like him back home, away from places where he needs to kill-or-be-killed. Today I opened up my Sunday newspaper to find the "Happy Fathers Day" greeting on the front page -- next to the headline, "4 Marines Killed In Afganistan". This Father's Day, I am praying for my uncle, his son, and all other fathers with sons in the military...especially those who have died for our country. They died, and their fathers, while deeply anguished, are proud.
3. Honoring our own fathers, and remembering how they taught us to be dads
Tim Russert passed away this week, and a nation is mourning - not because he was an exceptional journalist (he was), but because he was an exceptional person in the public eye. To those of us who saw him through the glass of our TV's, he was a normal guy. He loved the Bills, loved his family, spoke with the common sensibility of a neighbor over the fence, and he loved his father. He loved his father so much, he wrote a book about him. Today, Tim Russert's father, "Big Russ", is mourning the passing of his son. It is commonly said that children should not die before their parents. But reality is that they do...whether in war, due to tragedy, accident, or health. And God has His reasons and plans -- we may not understand, but He does have a reason for this to happen. My father is currently writing his memoirs as he tries to enjoy early retirement. I got him Barack Obama's first book - a memoir of sorts that relates back to his father. Not having read it myself, I thought it might have a "Father's Day" tilt to it. I also wanted to get him something to get his memoir project some inspiration....I guess we shall see. Perhaps I should have purchased "Big Russ and Me" - Tim Russert's book about his father. Basically his father's memoirs with his son's journalistic pen. Either way, I think both books have a common thread -- that is, how we honor our fathers, and remember how they taught us to be dads. I know my own father's memoirs will meditate on this, and I for certain know mine will too someday.
4. How great it is to be a "new dad"...or an "old dad"
My daughter, Evelyn, is now 8 months old. This is my first Father's Day, and I can't believe how much I am in love with my daughter. She is so precious to me! One of my closest friends called up today - he has a daughter who is 2, and invited me to a Father's Day BBQ. This morning, to celebrate Father's Day, we will enjoy a brunch of lake trout from Meggisi with my father who could not make the annual pilgramage this year. Later we will go to the BBQ. New dads, and old dads, we all have a very certain and common bond. Celebrating fathers brings together families and friends alike. Dads learn from one another, and pass on the awesome knowledge and responsibility to be "Dad". It's a blast!
Posted by pierre at June 15, 2008 9:35 AM