Fatherhood
Today as we remember our fathers, giving thanks for the love, care, and nurture given, mindful of the loss, grief, and wondering of others, I offer this meditation on fathers in scripture. As always, all we can imagine is present....
ADAM -- THE FIRST FATHER
He doesn't say much as his sons are born, but he is there. We can imagine his bursting heart as he held Cain in his arms. But perhaps we can never fully grasp his sorrow when sibling rivalry went berserk. I often wonder what his love felt like for Seth--anxious, lest loss be met again? joy at a new life? stand--offish, having been touched by tragedy once? full embrace because of that same sorrow?
But there he is, leading the way.
ABRAHAM --THE OLD FATHER
A father at 100! What did he do at 300 AM when Isaac cried in his sleep? Can you imagine the old man running around trying to keep up with a toddler? Yet, he knew with Sarah that this child was Laughter, the Hebrew meaning of Isaac. Can you imagine the amazed wonder as he held his child under a night sky, pointing out the stars to little Isaac, telling him you are one of the first of a promise of myriad upon myriad to come?
ELI -- THE ADOPTIVE FATHER
The priest already had sons when Hannah presented her gift from God to him to raise. But he had hope, too. Samuel was a promise kept, and promise yet to be fulfilled. So, Eli taught him all he knew. Eli watched him grow. Eli listened for the voice Samuel heard whispering a call in his ear. Eli helped Samuel understand who he was and what he was to be. What did Eli feel as Samuel walked into the world as a prophet?
DAVID -- THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FATHER
Yes, even such a model is here, too. David and his children, all blessed with his own sense of importance, born rivals. David did not manage them so much as survive them. What was it like to have to run from one of your own children? But he loved Absalom, even as he hid from Absalom. One need never need doubt the realism of scripture. Here it is.
JOSEPH -- DEAR DAD
Joseph loved Jesus. He would do anything for Jesus--even move to Egypt, clear across the world to all the family in Nazareth. He clung to a promise--note how promise runs through all these biblical fathers--that his son was a unique gift from God. Once Jesus is safely growing up, Joseph vanishes from the story. He is not mentioned when the rest of the family goes to preaching Jesus. I do not believe Joseph to be an absent father, but rather what most fathers become--there, but backstage, making sure things happen that need to, offering direction through the complicated bits, and waiting to celebrate the applause for the children.
GOD -- THE FATHER
And it all comes from the Maker. Jesus called him Abba/Papa. God loved all the children. God shows how to love the children--selflessly, self-emptyingly. God redeems the children. Always. God is love. When we hold a child close to our hearts, perhaps we know the heart of God.
ADAM -- THE FIRST FATHER
He doesn't say much as his sons are born, but he is there. We can imagine his bursting heart as he held Cain in his arms. But perhaps we can never fully grasp his sorrow when sibling rivalry went berserk. I often wonder what his love felt like for Seth--anxious, lest loss be met again? joy at a new life? stand--offish, having been touched by tragedy once? full embrace because of that same sorrow?
But there he is, leading the way.
ABRAHAM --THE OLD FATHER
A father at 100! What did he do at 300 AM when Isaac cried in his sleep? Can you imagine the old man running around trying to keep up with a toddler? Yet, he knew with Sarah that this child was Laughter, the Hebrew meaning of Isaac. Can you imagine the amazed wonder as he held his child under a night sky, pointing out the stars to little Isaac, telling him you are one of the first of a promise of myriad upon myriad to come?
ELI -- THE ADOPTIVE FATHER
The priest already had sons when Hannah presented her gift from God to him to raise. But he had hope, too. Samuel was a promise kept, and promise yet to be fulfilled. So, Eli taught him all he knew. Eli watched him grow. Eli listened for the voice Samuel heard whispering a call in his ear. Eli helped Samuel understand who he was and what he was to be. What did Eli feel as Samuel walked into the world as a prophet?
DAVID -- THE DYSFUNCTIONAL FATHER
Yes, even such a model is here, too. David and his children, all blessed with his own sense of importance, born rivals. David did not manage them so much as survive them. What was it like to have to run from one of your own children? But he loved Absalom, even as he hid from Absalom. One need never need doubt the realism of scripture. Here it is.
JOSEPH -- DEAR DAD
Joseph loved Jesus. He would do anything for Jesus--even move to Egypt, clear across the world to all the family in Nazareth. He clung to a promise--note how promise runs through all these biblical fathers--that his son was a unique gift from God. Once Jesus is safely growing up, Joseph vanishes from the story. He is not mentioned when the rest of the family goes to preaching Jesus. I do not believe Joseph to be an absent father, but rather what most fathers become--there, but backstage, making sure things happen that need to, offering direction through the complicated bits, and waiting to celebrate the applause for the children.
GOD -- THE FATHER
And it all comes from the Maker. Jesus called him Abba/Papa. God loved all the children. God shows how to love the children--selflessly, self-emptyingly. God redeems the children. Always. God is love. When we hold a child close to our hearts, perhaps we know the heart of God.
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