Father’s Day rolls around every June. It is unfortunate that there is not as much fanfare for fathers on Father’s Day as there is for mothers on their annual day of recognition. Sure, I know that there are absentee fathers as well as (tragically) abusive fathers who have tanished the image of fatherhood. This breaks my heart. Nevertheless, fathers are important too. I could not imagine life without my father. Like so many others who have had goodly experiences with their fathers, over the years I have developed my own personal idea of what a true father is like .

A father is a person characterized by strength, wisdom, and hard work. My father was a blue collar man. He worked in a factory for over 30 years. He seemed to always own a pickup truck so pickup trucks reminds me of fathers. He knew how to work on cars so whenever I see a guy under the hood of a car it reminds me of dads. I almost never remember him without his prominent and ever expanding bald spot, which later played a major part in his decision to simply shave his head; so bald heads remind me of dads. He likes fishing and took us out for our fair share of it during our childhood; so fishing reminds me of dads.

My father seemed to always be in the habit of helping other people and that has rubbed off on me, to a fault. One time I gave away all our family room furniture to a needy family. My children came home from school and thought we had been robbed. I blame my father for that. He was just too nice of a guy…except when he had to discipline us.

There were times when our misbehavior made him so angry his eye-balls turned red and protruded about 3 inches from their sockets. That’s why, to this very day, bulging eye-balls reminds me of fathers. Nevertheless, by the time Sunday rolled around he was in a good enough mood to take us on a family drive that often ended at the Dairy Isle, a local ice cream shop; so small corner ice cream shops remind me of my father too.

You know, having a father who disciplines is not necessarily a bad thing. In fact, it is a godly thing. A father who loves his children should discipline them. And, according to the writer of Hebrews, God the Father is no exception:

Hebrews 12:7-9 (NIV) 7 Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? 8 If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. 9 Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live!

Like everybody else on the face of the planet, my earthly father is not perfect. Furthermore, the images that remind me of my father could be far and away from the images that remind you of yours. Still, we can agree that the discipline and correction of a good father has made us better, stronger and wiser. In fact, the combination of an imperfect father and an imperfect mother make the perfect combination for raising godly children.

My final thoughts: we can find commonality in the fact that our fathers are ours, and in my mind that makes all the difference in the world. Even though we may not share the experience of having the same earthly father, for those of us who have committed our souls to the savior, we do share the privilege of having the same heavenly father. He is ours and, by the way, he IS perfect.

Words and thoughts. Sincerely, from the heart and mind of Victor.

I looked back at one of my journal entries today.

I’m in a melancholy mood. The words to an old song by a group, The Carpenters, keep floating through my head. The song, written by Paul Williams & Roger Nichols, is called “Rainy Days and Mondays.” The song has a refrain that goes, “Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.” Well, it’s not raining today so it must be the fact that it is a Monday that has affected my frame of mind.

As I said at the beginning, I was looking at a journal entry in which I wrote the following words, “Walls make you feel safe. Windows enable you to see through the walls, while remaining safe on the inside.” Throughout that journal entry I noted that walls pop up everywhere in our lives. There are walls that affect our careers, our ambitions, our relationships. Everything. The thing about walls is they allow us to remain safely tucked behind them, looking through the window, but never venturing out to face the challenges on the other side. This can be unhealthy.

In that journal entry I also noted that I was praying for God to move me from behind my wall of safety to a place where I could make a greater impact in my world for Christ. I actually wrote that I would be willing to pastor a church and lead a flock into uninhibited worship and dedicated service for the cause of Christ. Furthermore, I wrote that, at that time, I felt stifled in my service and smothered by my passivity. That was years ago (four, to be exact). What in the world did I pray that for? Now look at me! I’m a senior pastor.

Here are some words of wisdom for you: Watch what you pray for. You just might get it. Ha!

So, the words to this old song had been floating through my mind. The neat thing is, Ive found they provide a “spiritual vitamin” for a melancholy Monday:

Talkin' to myself and feelin' old
Sometimes I'd like to quit
Nothing ever seems to fit
Hangin' around
Nothing to do but frown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

What I've got they used to call the blues
Nothin' is really wrong
Feelin' like I don't belong
Walkin' around
Some kind of lonely clown
Rainy Days and Mondays always get me down.

Funny but it seems I always wind up here with you
Nice to know somebody loves me
Funny but it seems that it's the only thing to do
Run and find the one who loves me.

There! Did you catch it!? That last verse. It’s in these melancholy moments that “I always wind up here with you.” That would be “with Christ.” “Nice to know somebody loves me.” That would be God. “Run and find the one who loves me.” That would be Jesus. At least, this is the way I processed the words on a melancholy Monday.

So what’s the point? The first point is: dare to pray for God to move you beyond the walls that inhibit your life. If the walls are never torn down between you and your ambitions, you will never advance in your career. If the walls are never torn down between you and your relationships, you will never have good friends. If the walls are not torn down between you and your inhibitions, you will never step out in faith so that God can use you to make an impact within your spheres of influence.

The second point is, don’t waste rainy days and melancholy Mondays. Allow them to drive you to the savior. It is in these moments that we are apt to drop our guard and allow God to comfort us. It’s in these moments that we do some of our most passionate praying. It is in the quite reflection of these moments that our minds and hearts are receptive to the Lord’s leading. So let him tear down the walls and lead you along life's way. Amen? Amen.

Just some melancholy thoughts, on a rainless Monday, from the heart and mind of Victor