The Connection

 

See you in the kingdom Pop

“That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon, and our hands have handled, the Word of life.”  1 John 1:1

 

There are times I cry tears.

There are times I want to cry but instead the mixed up feelings move within me like a woman carrying a child. The dry throat, the blank stare and the tight lip are the outward signs of inward emotional disarray.

Sometimes it hurts the most when no tears fall.

This isn’t intended to induce tears but if it does …well you’re not alone.  

 

“…we have heard”

I still hear him say “Hey bud!” ..It was what he said every time I called. Sometimes I could even hear his smile through the phone.  

I still hear the laughter that filled the air in an imperfect home by a family that served a perfect God.

I still hear him …They’re called memories and they assist me in the healing process.

I still hear him.

The sounds haunt me as well as heal me. … The tears begin to flow, oh sweet relief!! … A little water spilled on my cheeks feels like a cool drink on a hot day.

Again, I don’t intend to induce your tears I’m only speaking from … what I have heard.

 

“…we have seen with our eyes”

He was one of the first people I ever saw on this earth. A model of what a man is supposed to be I would learn from observing.

As he watched me, I watched him.

When he didn’t think I was looking, I was still watching. I saw this man at the top and I have seen him at the bottom and yet the most precious moment wasn’t the basketball games or the fishing it was the time when he admitted his shortcomings and asked for MY forgiveness.

I’ve seen him cry, I’ve seen him angry, I’ve seen him happy, I’ve seen him smile but most of all … I’ve seen him love.

Again, I don’t intend to induce your tears I’m only speaking from … what I have seen.

 

“…our hands have handled”

I was never afraid to hug him and he was never afraid to spank me. (And hug me back). It must have been the great spanking of 92 when I had vowed that I had had enough. Needless to say that wasn’t the end.

I had contact with him on many occasions, hugging, wrestling, playing basketball, and of course the spankings.  To me he was the strongest man on the earth.

And he never used that strength in an abusive way.

Casting a fishing rod, shooting a basketball, changing a tire, tying a tie, making breakfast, tying a shoe, are all just a tip of the iceberg.

I have handled my father.

From him changing me as a baby to me changing him as an adult I have handled him.

I have helped him when he could not help himself, I have handled him.

I have grasped his hand and prayed for him, I have handled him.

…and I did it, with a smile on my heart.

My last moment was a gentle kiss on his forehead,

 …but my NEXT moment will be a great big hug!! …

…”Even so come Lord Jesus” Rev. 22:20

Again, I don’t intend to induce your tears I’m only letting you know … what my hands have handled.

 

 This blog isn’t intended to compare my father with Jesus rather it was an attempt to connect with the relationship between Jesus and his disciples and my father and I.

Thank you for being a part of my healing process. I hope you enjoyed it.

Humbly yours,

Easy

 

Can I get a witness?

They call him “King James”. Never before has there been so much hype, so much pressure and so much placed on the shoulders of a 19 yr old young man. It was only fitting that the one known as “King James ” should begin his NBA career against the Sacramento Kings. Nobody remembers that the Kings won the ball game, rather everyone was focused on James 25 points and 9 assists he dished out. From day one it was clear that Lebron was gonna be special. He wasn’t like a lot of other number one picks he was … different.

He said the right things.

He dressed the right way.

He was the consumate team player.

Oh and it doesn’t hurt when you’re 6’8, 260 can run like a gazelle and jump like another player that used to wear 23. He was it, the NBA’s saviour had come to set the marketing executives free from having to market subpar ball players with lackluster skills. A guy that could hit the winning shot, be graceful to the media and have your daughter home by eleven. This man was just too good to be true. After walking on water he later turned that water into Gatorade for his teamates to hydrate. NBA commissioner David Stern made law that everyone entering into the Cavs arena must first take off their shoes. ..”It just shows respect to the King”.

Of course all these reports aren’t varified.

For the first 5 years of his career Lebron hadn’t recieved any bad press … until now. Let me preface my statement by saying this, Lebron is what the NBA needs and I admire everything he stands for. However, when Lebron walked off the court and didn’t congratulate the other team and later failed to answer questions to reporters I was as dissappointed as those that had “witnessed” his greatness. To me this showed a lack of charachter, maturity and integrity.

In golf after a round is played you shake hands. .. Win or Lose

In hockey after a 3 quarters of battle they shake hands. … Win or Lose

In football after beating on each other, they shake hands. … Win or Lose

It’s called sportsmanship.

To me sportsmanship is the realization that … IT’S JUST A GAME. Yes Lebron we know you were mad and we know you are competive but I have to call you on this one. After sweeping the Pistons and the Hawks you couldn’t find enough hands to shake. You got your butt whipped and I know it hurts but don’t be mad at them, use it as motivation to make you better.

And to be honest, it really bothered me because I would NEVER let my son play any game like that. I tell him you play the game as hard as you can but at the end of the day you leave it on the field or court because it’s just a game. You can’t take your ball and leave because big brother just put the beatdown on you.

Anybody can be a good winner but a true champion will shine even in defeat.

Humbly Yours,

Easy