Feliz Día del Padre

So much is happening, I just wish someone would follow me around a make a documentary of my life…I’m not sure who would watch it, but if you’re reading this entry, I guess you’ve been a pretty supportive friend thus far.  Since I last posted, too many things have happened, but the main great thing was this past Friday night: the first ever “lock-in” for the youth group.  But sorry, girls, this one was Man’s Night.  (This picture is not from Man's Night, obviously, but it shows you some of the guys that were there...)

We definitely played games, ate food and watched The Blindside (heads up: Sandra Bullock’s southern draw doesn’t cross languages).  But the highlights for me were the devotionals we had.  We studied the Beatitudes that night, and for these boys, it was the first time they’d ever heard of them.

Emmanuel (one of the young leaders in the church here), two other American guys who visited us this week, and I each took 2 verses and led discussions on them.

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called sons of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

                ~ Matthew 5:3-10

We discussed how these verses aren’t instructions or rules for us, but rather Jesus simply describing what a holy person looks like.  And it was then I realized that while these seven boys have never really studied these eight verses, they can live them.

They understand poverty because they live in it.  They are some of the most humble and loving boys I’ve ever met.  They crave righteousness because they know what it’s like to go hungry.  They want to be peaceful because being called a son of God is the greatest promise they’ve ever heard.

You see, some of these boys have never met their fathers.  Three brothers know their dad, but he more or less comes home often enough to get their mom pregnant.  Some do have adad at home, but they’re not biologically related.

For everyone, Father’s Day can mean something completely different, but in a place like Panamá (where they, too, celebrated Father’s Day today), it can seem downright meaningless—but not to these boys.   They have a Father.  And they have a church family with many dads who step up and treat these boys as their own.  So for today, they wrote them all notes, thanking them for being their “dads.”

Just like so many down here, I didn’t see my dad this Father’s Day either.  But I am lucky enough to know mine and be his son.  Happy Father’s Day, Dad, and to all of you dads!  And to each of you reading this blog, rejoice in our heavenly Father!  He is longing to be with you.