At our most creative moment, at our deepest thought, at our highest level, we still cannot fathom eternity.
"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him." 1 Corinthians 2:9.
My father-in-law went on to glory last week. It was sudden and stunning how fast it all happened. The Monday after Thanksgiving I was honored to say the eulogy at his funeral. I'd like to share a part of it with you today.
On Dec. 13, 1987, my girlfriend insisted that I go meet her father. It was terribly important for me to do so. I wasn't so optimistic at the prospect. "You've got to make a good impression," she said. "My Daddy means the world to me."
So that Sunday afternoon we got into my car and drove through the two-lane roads, switchbacks, swamps and forests around Arkadelphia until we came to a little town called Sparkman. Her dad was a music minister at Sparkman Baptist Church.
That night I heard a preacher preach. A deacon pray and a liturgist read scripture. I don't remember any of the words they said or read, but I remember one thing quite clearly.
That's when I first heard the voice of an angel.
Ken (my future father-in-law) got up and sang a solo. It was a version of "Three Wise Men of the Orient" and I sat there blown away.
On the way back, I was so excited. I told my future wife how awesome her dad's voice was. The range he had. And the way he moved his hands up and down keeping the congregation in time was amazing. He definitely made an impression on me.
And, I thought I made an impression on him too.
A couple of days later, I had to go to the Dean's office to try to get out of some parking tickets. Back then, you couldn't take your finals until all the parking tickets were taken care of. Imagine my elation when I found out that the person I needed to talk to was Ken! I knew that he was an Assistant Dean, but didn't know what he was in charge of.
So I strode into his office with an air of confidence because I just knew that I had made a great impression and I dated his daughter and those parking tickets would just evaporate away.
Oh the follies of youth.
For those who knew Ken, I don't have to explain that there was no way in the world that he was going to let his daughter's boyfriend out of a parking ticket.
I remember that he leaned forward in his chair, put his hands together, looked me in the eye and said, "Troy. I expect for you to follow the rules."
Sage advice for any young person to have. Especially a future son-in-law.
Over the past thirty years, I've tried to live up to his expectations of me. But no matter what I did or said or accomplished in life, I could never quite shake that feeling that Ken thought I just wasn't good enough for his precious little angel.
And truthfully, like in most things, he's right.
I'm still astounded each day by the breadth and depth of love my wife has to share with everyone around her. A love she learned from her dad. The same kind of enduring love that has been passed on to our kids. That's the true legacy we leave behind. The love that we teach our children so that they can love as fiercely as we do.
Let us pray.
Our great and gracious Lord. We thank you for the love you have shown to us through your son Jesus Christ. We pray for our children that they too will know the love that you have given us. We pray for the Saints in your kingdom and thank you for their lives. And we pray for ourselves. That each new day will bring us new ways to love one another. In Christ's name we pray. Amen.
The blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be upon you.
PASTOR TROY CONRAD IS MINISTER OF FARMINGTON UNITED METHODIST CHURCH. EMAIL: [email protected]. THE OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE THOSE OF THE AUTHOR.
Religion on 12/07/2016