Father

FATHER = he who begets a child; a male parent; the Supreme Being; Source

QUESTION: What did you learn from your father?

STORY: My father was not around much when I was growing up - although he and mom did try to make a go of their marriage for two years when I was in middle school. Dad thought deeply about society, politics and government and for a while was a member of the Socialist Labor Party. I created this drawing of my father in 1992 - just two weeks before he died. He was sitting at the kitchen table in my sister’s home looking around for someone to talk with. I don’t remember what we were talking about but he did agree to sit still for a minute or two so I could draw him. My father also loved to dance. A month before he died, he handed me an audiotape of his favorite big band songs. We sat on the couch in my living room and listened to it for a bit. Then he stood up, offered me his hand and we danced. Dad had been a smoker for many years and now he had developed lung cancer and it quickly spread to other organs. My father is always in my memory…I’m sure that your father is always in your memory.

QUOTES

"If there is any immortality to be had among us human beings, it is certainly only in the love that we leave behind. Fathers like mine don't ever die." ~ Leo Buscaglia

“There will always be a few people who have the courage to love what is untamed inside us. One of those men is my father.” ~ Alison Lohman

"The strongest, toughest men all have compassion. They're not heartless or cold. You have to be man enough to have compassion and to care about people and about your children." ~ Denzel Washington

EXERCISE

STOP.

Sit quietly. Assume an erect posture. Sense the breath. Relax. Bring to mind your father - even if you didn’t know your father.

Get your pen and paper and write words describing how your father is or has been a source of something special in your life. Describe something you learned from your father.

And if you have another minute or two, draw imaginary lines expressing his LIFE ENERGY that is flowing through your body now.