For the first time ever.
Twice a year, for years, I lead Church History Tours. This past October for my Fall Foliage church history tour, I knew my dad would come see me because he's come the last few times.
But he's the one who called me before I called him. He asked when my Palmyra day is because he knew Tour was coming up. I told him my schedule of my Palmyra day to figure out what time he wanted to come. I told him I had flexibility that whole day, but at 5 PM I was speaking in a full on in-chapel devotional.
But I knew he always likes to come late mornings anyways so it wouldn't have mattered.
Except he decided he wanted to come later to hear me speak.
I have been a public speaker for 15 years.
And this would be the first time my dad has ever heard me speak.
I spoke for 45 minutes on Jesus.
I went and sat down next to him afterward for the ending musical number.
He leaned over to me and whispered in my ear, "I can tell that you've done this a time or two," haha...
He stayed for dinner afterward. He always intends to be a "fly on the wall," but he knows that he never will be at these things.
His whole walk from the chapel to the gym, and his entire dinner, was interrupted by people coming up to him and shaking his hand. My favorite part is how he is always beyond taken back and completely shocked at the kindness others show to him every time. It's just not something he's used to.
We haven't really talked much about it, but he's a respectful, kind, humble man who doesn't talk feelings often.
But here's what I know...
I do know, the first time he came to visit me on tour, he stayed just for lunch.
And I know the second time he visited, he came for lunch with everyone, but then followed us to the Hill Cumorah, and came inside and listened to the Christus recording.
And I know that this time, he purposely came to the church to hear from me.
And I know that he got a haircut just for this.
And I know that he got a new corduroy jacket & vest just for this.
And I do know that he purposely missed the Bills game just for this. (Locals know that's huge).
And I do know that during the musical number, his eyes were super watery.
And I do know that relationships can mend.
And losses will be made up.
And mountains still move
And small steps are still steps.
And every step is the miracle.
And change and growth are always available.
And every passing second is a chance to turn it all around.
And God breathes life into our sunken spots.
And God takes our emptiness and voids, & fills Himself in there with wholeness.
And every season with Him is vibrant & blossoming.
And the sun always rises & you are always God's.
I don't talk about my dad or my conversion—haven't in well over a decade. But I think it's relevant to note... when my dad told me to pick him or this Church, he never would've thought I would have continued with Church.
And then when I did, even though it was so beyond out of character for him, I think I hurt him enough for him to follow through pulling back and pulling away.
But I wonder if you can see yourself in him. It took me years before realizing, as parents, all you want for your child is for them to be happy. And as parents, we have this idea of what can lead them to happiness. So when I chose to get baptized, this was a foreign path to him. And he was nervous that this path unknown to him could lead to happiness or not.
xox AL
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