By: Robert Jones
Father’s Day Reflection 2020
Lately Our minds have been totally occupied with the COVID-19 quarantine and the civil unrest that followed after the death of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd. This is an interesting time in our country’s history, as such, these issues deserve our attention and concern. With so much going on it is not hard to let a day like Father’s Day float by without honoring our fathers as we would normally. As a father myself, I know I will probably spend much of Father’s Day as any other recent Sunday, making a grocery run alone to avoid the unnecessary exposure of my family to the public during this time of quarantine.
As I think about it, and I imagine this is true for many fathers, I don’t mind spending my day for recognition doing what I normally do, and that is planning for, providing for and protecting those that God has entrusted to my care. Although it is a moment to celebrate the work fathers have done, I am sure I can not be the only father who feels the work is not yet done so I appreciate small sentiments of celebration in lieu of something large that resembles a culminating activity.
With so much going on, the work not being done, is a point that cannot be stressed too lightly. I, like many other fathers recognize that during turbulent times our presence, our words, our guidance, our discernment, our wisdom, and our love are desperately needed not only for those for which we are responsible to weather societal storms, but also for our community in general to navigate this time of unrest and arrive on the shores of a better tomorrow. Since the work is not done, I and others strive to be fathers who are thinkers, those who will contemplate the movements of society and plan a course that will protect those entrusted to us. Since the work is not done fathers all over our community have shown themselves to be men of action, being the example to those watching that some things are worth the fight.
Fathers of contemplation and action, these are the kind of men which this time demands. I am reminded of a poem by Josiah Holland which captures the type of men and fathers needed not only during troubled times, but especially during troubled times.
GOD, give us men! A time like this demands Strong minds, great hearts, true faith and ready hands; Men whom the lust of office does not kill; Men whom the spoils of office can not buy; Men who possess opinions and a will; Men who have honor; men who will not lie; Men who can stand before a demagogue And damn his treacherous flatteries without winking! Tall men, sun-crowned, who live above the fog In public duty, and in private thinking; For while the rabble, with their thumb-worn creeds, Their large professions and their little deeds, Mingle in selfish strife, lo! Freedom weeps, Wrong rules the land and waiting Justice sleeps.
As we consider fathers this weekend let us stop and think about how they view their roles and its demands upon them. Authors Dr. Patricia Love and Dr. Steven Stosny point out how a man who feels he has not provided for and protected those he loves can be filled with paralyzing shame. Simply knowing that he is fulfilling this role could encourage and sustain his efforts to be a positive force on those entrusted to his care. My encouragement to you on this father’s day because his work is not done, and because quarantine may not allow you to celebrate in public as in previous years, this may be a good time to offer some heart felt words of encouragement and appreciation. The thought here is not just to let father figures know we love them, but to communicate things like, “You have done an awesome job raising your children”. Or maybe, “You have kept us safe and protected through so many hard times”. If have or know a father figure that has done the work let him know and watch his face light up.
Robert Jones works as a Systems Engineer and is Executive Pastor at Abundant Grace Ministries in Los Angeles agmla.org. He lives in Long Beach with his wife Charlene and daughters Anastasia and Sophia-Dei.
