Last weekend I was at a gathering in Selby, Ontario to celebrate my father's 80th birthday. We had to rent a hall and during the course of the afternoon probably close to 200 sat down and chatted and listened to some live music. My dad has been a church planter, pastor, itinerant missionary, bible camp director, musician and stringed instrument teacher.
And let's be clear, all of those were accompanied by, or led by, my mother, for better or worse. For the past 40 years or so, his most consistent occupation has been as a music teacher, in and around Napanee -- until he was 75.
At the gathering were friends of close to 60 years. Some got on the stage to play along with my dad [I brought along his Gibson J50 guitar that he bought in 1954]. There were music students that he taught as pre-teens, now in their 50s. There were former campers whose whole families were transformed by meeting Jesus 30 years ago.
There were nieces and nephews and grandchildren. Only a few got on the stage to sing and share a memory, but there was a lot of nodding in agreement from the audience.
One student from the 1970s, and long-time family friend, is a missionary in Nigeria; she sent this brief note: "Your dad impacted my music journey in how music can be a great influence on the lives of the people one touches while teaching."
I have been re-reading Joseph Myers book, Organic Community. He suggests that stories are the universal measurement of life. For people like my father and mother who have lived their lives with a sense of purpose and mission -- that others might encounter Jesus as Saviour, Healer and Comforter in the way that they have -- the only 'count' is "persons served in mission." I believe that each person in that room on Saturday had been "served" in one manner or another by my father and mother. At weddings and funerals. At times of great joy and great sadness. Faithful friendship year in and year out. Every person in that room would have a story to tell. And many, many songs...
Tune in here to listen to my dad from a cd recorded about 10 years ago. Back to the Prairies
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