Rethinking Father's Day

I recently read a story about a herd of elephants in Africa. In order to control the growing population, wildlife ecologist took some of the older male elephants away from the herd. Soon this herd started acting abnormally doing things they wouldn’t normally do -  attacking other animals, fighting amongst themselves, posturing for position in the herd. In fact they started acting like rebellious teenagers. (Sort of like a select few individuals acting out after an unnamed city loses the Stanley Cup final)  The wildlife ecologists soon realized that this “acting out” was due to the lack of an older male presence in the herd. They inserted some more mature male elephants into the herd and the disruptive behaviour stopped. This made me think how important our father figures are in our society. I think we all can point to instances where this “elephant scenario” plays itself out in our world today.

But are we placing too much pressure on our fathers? We tell them that their voice is the most powerful voice in the world in the lives or their kids. Walk into any evangelical church this Sunday and you will hear a message similar to that. Perhaps even a “shape up and do better” message for our fathers because it is all riding on their shoulders. I know of a really good father who will no longer go to church on Father’s Day because he is sickened by the “do better” message. Ironically, we don’t have the same message for our mothers on Mother’s Day. I am not saying that we need to tell our fathers to fail but do we need to change our paradigm?

Even a good father cannot compare with our perfect heavenly Father. And, I wonder if our push for strong father figures in our society could distract us from finding solace in our Heavenly Father.

I watched one of those “Surprise Wedding” shows the other night. As the guy got down on his knee to propose to this girl he asked, “Will you be my eternity? Will you be my everything?” After I finished throwing up, I came to the realization that we are desperately trying to get eternal things out or our earthly relationships. The same goes for our how we view our parents. Sure Godly parents will give you a better chance to grow up in the knowledge of God and I am extremely thankful for mine! But, we have to remember that God is far bigger than our earthly fathers and mothers. I realize as a father that I cannot compare with the Fathering that my heavenly Father can do. My prayer as an earthly father is that my heavenly Father would continue to Father me and my children.

Colossians 3:1-4 says, “Since you have been raised to new life with Christ, set your sights on the realities of heaven, where Christ sits at God’s right hand in the place of honour and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts. Do not think only about the things down here on earth. For you died when Christ died, and your real life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your real life, is revealed to the whole world, you will share in all his glory.”

I learned this year that in the New Testament you can replace the word “God” with “Father” in most instances. Take the phrase that I italicized previously and it says “your real life is hidden with Christ in the Father.” Hmmm…how much stock should we put in our earthly relationships if this is not our real life? Can I receive from my earthly father those things that only my heavenly Father can give?

Whether you have a perceived good father or not, make sure you thank your father this Father’s Day. He sacrificed more than you know to get you to where you are today. But most of all turn to your heavenly Father who is ready to Father you.