Father of the Year
Hi guys, Fred here.
Something a bit topical this week, given that Father's Day is next Sunday. Cherish your Fathers and their memories - at least the good memories.
Nomination for Father of the Year
Stories sometimes come to our attention which confront us in a secret inner place. Recently Jon Stanhope, the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory put forward a surprise nomination for Australian Father of the Year. And who was this surprise nomination? No other than Terry Hicks, father of David Hicks, the young Australian who was caught fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Many applauded the nomination. Just as many were aghast.
Terry Hicks has been untiring and unrelenting in his efforts to get his son home. And in the process he’s been given his own psychological belting for being responsible for young David’s waywardness in the first place. But you know, if one of my kids had got into a terrible scrape, or a terrible mess, like David Hicks has, I’d hope I could be a father like Terry.
My own dad stood by me once when I’d really stuffed up. (And no, he was not responsible for what I had done). His action then has been an encouragement over many years. It was an inspiration in my own parenting of the kids. I’ve recently been working with a family where one of the kids involved himself in an appalling situation, where the outcome was endless trouble, with a very hostile public response. Joy of joys, and courage of courages, his family has supported him through it all, and that grace will be the making of him.
I know another father whose youngest son got into total rebellious mode, told his father to get stuffed and that he wished he was dead, demanded his inheritance, was surprisingly given it, and shot through with it. He went overseas and lived without a care, as though there was no tomorrow, got himself into alliances directly apposed to everything his father stood for. Everything he did mocked his father’s belief system and values. Broke his father’s heart.
When this young man had blown it all, and practically destroyed himself by his own blind stupidity, he began to do some soul-searching. There was deep dawning recognition of the dreadful thing he’d done to dad and family. Then he took the biggest risk of his life. He headed home, hoping for a chance to live on the margins of father’s life and of that of his family. Turned up, hardly recognisable, looking like something the cat dragged in. Got a real shock when his old man cut off his carefully prepared drivelling little speech. Hardly had time to catch his breath while dad was organising a celebration, got him properly dressed, arranging proper ID, and totally making the rebel welcome back home.
(You may read this story for yourself in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 15! And if I may point it out, the abominable behaviour of the son wasn’t the father’s fault either!)
Isn’t Terry Hicks response like the Father in that Prodigal Son story? The restoration is just such a surprise. Neither father approves, or ever would want to approve, of what was done. Both love their sons and want them home. Both want their sons with them.
Contrast that with the attitudes and actions of the fathers of our nation, who love to preach to us about Christian traditions and values. Think PM, MFA and AG. Throw the bugger to the wolves! Let him rot. He burned his bridges. He deserves nothing. We disown him! We’ll treat him as though he’s not a son of this Australian family.
Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhh.
I hope you know the heart of your father.
- Pastor Fred
Just a reminder, that you are free to use this material, send it on to anyone else. Use the email button below
Something a bit topical this week, given that Father's Day is next Sunday. Cherish your Fathers and their memories - at least the good memories.
Nomination for Father of the Year
Stories sometimes come to our attention which confront us in a secret inner place. Recently Jon Stanhope, the Chief Minister of the Australian Capital Territory put forward a surprise nomination for Australian Father of the Year. And who was this surprise nomination? No other than Terry Hicks, father of David Hicks, the young Australian who was caught fighting with the Taliban in Afghanistan. Many applauded the nomination. Just as many were aghast.
Terry Hicks has been untiring and unrelenting in his efforts to get his son home. And in the process he’s been given his own psychological belting for being responsible for young David’s waywardness in the first place. But you know, if one of my kids had got into a terrible scrape, or a terrible mess, like David Hicks has, I’d hope I could be a father like Terry.
My own dad stood by me once when I’d really stuffed up. (And no, he was not responsible for what I had done). His action then has been an encouragement over many years. It was an inspiration in my own parenting of the kids. I’ve recently been working with a family where one of the kids involved himself in an appalling situation, where the outcome was endless trouble, with a very hostile public response. Joy of joys, and courage of courages, his family has supported him through it all, and that grace will be the making of him.
I know another father whose youngest son got into total rebellious mode, told his father to get stuffed and that he wished he was dead, demanded his inheritance, was surprisingly given it, and shot through with it. He went overseas and lived without a care, as though there was no tomorrow, got himself into alliances directly apposed to everything his father stood for. Everything he did mocked his father’s belief system and values. Broke his father’s heart.
When this young man had blown it all, and practically destroyed himself by his own blind stupidity, he began to do some soul-searching. There was deep dawning recognition of the dreadful thing he’d done to dad and family. Then he took the biggest risk of his life. He headed home, hoping for a chance to live on the margins of father’s life and of that of his family. Turned up, hardly recognisable, looking like something the cat dragged in. Got a real shock when his old man cut off his carefully prepared drivelling little speech. Hardly had time to catch his breath while dad was organising a celebration, got him properly dressed, arranging proper ID, and totally making the rebel welcome back home.
(You may read this story for yourself in the gospel of Luke, Chapter 15! And if I may point it out, the abominable behaviour of the son wasn’t the father’s fault either!)
Isn’t Terry Hicks response like the Father in that Prodigal Son story? The restoration is just such a surprise. Neither father approves, or ever would want to approve, of what was done. Both love their sons and want them home. Both want their sons with them.
Contrast that with the attitudes and actions of the fathers of our nation, who love to preach to us about Christian traditions and values. Think PM, MFA and AG. Throw the bugger to the wolves! Let him rot. He burned his bridges. He deserves nothing. We disown him! We’ll treat him as though he’s not a son of this Australian family.
Ahhh. Ahhh. Ahhh.
I hope you know the heart of your father.
“Blessed are the merciful…”Matthew 5: 7
“Be merciful as your Father is merciful”Luke 6: 36
- Pastor Fred
Just a reminder, that you are free to use this material, send it on to anyone else. Use the email button below
posted by Boomerexy at 11:21 PM
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